Creating Physical Objects With 3D Printers to Stimulate Reminiscing for Memory Loss [2 R44 AG049548-02A1]

In 2013 an estimated 5 million people age 65 and older had Alzheimer's disease. Longer life spans and aging baby boomers will cause this number to grow rapidly. More than 50% of residents in assisted living and nursing homes have some form of dementia or cognitive impairment and the number is increasing every day. As a form of person-centered, non-pharmacological dementia care, Reminiscence Therapy (RT) holds considerable promise. Improvements in mood, quality of life, social interaction, cognition, memory and a reduction in caregiver stress have been noted. This project will develop an operational model for identifying and producing 3D personal objects using 3D printing technology, and deploying them for use in RT. The research also will evaluate the effectiveness of using 3D-printed objects in RT compared to other types of memory stimuli. This novel approach to the "personalization" of reminiscence therapy will result in better social and mental health outcomes for individuals with dementia.