The Brenda Strafford Centre on Aging's Aging Insights newsletter features aging-related research, education, and community initiatives that involve or may be of interest to UCalgary campus community members. | |
Generative AI for Personal Reminiscence Therapy in Dementia Care
Reminiscence Therapy (RT) is a valuable non-pharmacological intervention for individuals living with dementia. Traditional RT uses a "Life Review" process, where individuals recall past life events and people utilizing memory triggers such as photographs, videos, and music; a process that has been found to reduce responsive behaviours and depression, enhance communication and cognitive function, and improve the quality of life of people living with dementia. However, personalizing RT can be labor-intensive and often requires personal mementos that may not be accessible.
Our project, the Autobiography Gallery, addresses these challenges by using Generative AI to create personalized photo albums that facilitate RT, reducing the effort needed for personalization and making RT more accessible. To access the effectiveness of the gallery, our research team—Payam Ranjbar (MSc student, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary), Dr. Mohammad Moshirpour (Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, University of California, Irvine), and Dr. Linda Duffett-Leger (Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary)—conducted focus groups with dementia care stakeholders and performed a user study with individuals living with dementia and their family caregivers. Participants shared memories that were transformed into custom photo albums. Feedback indicated that AI-generated images effectively stimulated emotional and cognitive responses, enhancing memory recall and reducing agitation.
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The Autobiography Gallery. Users shares memories, which are processed by the Autobiography Gallery system. Large language model agents engage in an iterative conversation to extract key details and generate structured prompts. Prompts are used to create personalized photo albums that reflect the user’s memories in various styles. | |
Screenshot of the Autobiography Gallery, showing a photo album based on a mother and son memory, buying school clothing at Damascus in the 1970s. | |
September 16, 2024
FORE! The Love of Golf: Pilot Project Explores Benefits of Dementia-Inclusive Golf Programming
Read more
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August 22, 2024
Can Someone Live to 117 Years Old While Living in Calgary? Why the Oldest Person in the World May, or May Not, Ever Be an Albertan
Listen here
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CIHR Catalyst Grant: Moving Upstream - Structural Determinants of Health
Application deadline: October 9, 2024
Learn more
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CIHR Catalyst Grant: Analysis of CLSA Data
Application deadline: October 30, 2024
Learn more
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CIHR Operating Grant: HCRI - Data Analysis Using Existing Databases and Cohorts
Application deadline: November 7, 2024
Learn more
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Visit the UCalgary database for more research funding opportunities: | | |
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Institutes for Transdisciplinary Scholarship:
Health and Life Gathering
October 21, 2024 | 9am - 6pm
Learn more
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UFlourish Wellness Fair
October 30, 2024 | 10am - 2:30pm
Learn more
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Better Together: Strengthening Public Health in Canada Through Collaboration and Research
October 30, 2024 | 8:30am - 3pm
Learn more
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Empathy Across Ages: Strengthening Our Campus Community
November 5, 2024 | 2pm - 3:30pm
Learn more
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Charting Your Course: Transitioning to Retirement and Life Beyond
November 14, 2024 | 3pm - 4pm
Learn more
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Alberta Continuing Care Association Annual Conference
October 15 - 17, 2024 I Calgary, AB
Learn more
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The North American Conference on Integrated Care
October 15 - 17, 2024 I Calgary, AB
Learn more
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Gerontological Society of America Annual Scientific Meeting
November 13 - 16, 2024 I Seattle, WA
Learn more
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TIFF Highlights Films About Body Image, Aging. So Why Are There So Few Roles For Women Over 40?
CBC: September 15, 2024
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What to Know About Common Causes of Forgetfulness
MedicalNewsToday: September 5, 2024
Read more
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Your Brain Ages at Different Paces According to Social and Physical Environments
ScienceDaily: August 29, 2024
Read more
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The National Institute on Ageing is hosting the 2024 Canadian Leadership in Ageing Awards competition. These awards recognize and celebrate outstanding leadership demonstrated by both graduate and undergraduate students across Canada. Learn more | |
Women at the Forefront of Aging in Canada: 2024 Report, Learn more | |
News to share? We would love to learn about your research, an award you received, a grant you received, or an event you are attending. Please send us your content! | | |
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The Brenda Strafford Centre on Aging is a cross-faculty aging hub whose mission is to create an ecosystem for innovation in age-inclusive environments, practices, and policies. We are focused on catalyzing networks and leading collaborative innovations centered on older adults through education, research, and community engagement. Our vision is to achieve optimal health and well-being for older adults driven by evidence and in an inclusive manner.
The University of Calgary, located in the heart of Southern Alberta, both acknowledges and pays tribute to the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6).
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