Alzheimer's disease is a type of neurological dementia that endangers the physical and mental health of the sufferer. About 7 million cases of dementia are added to the global list of diagnosed patients every year: these cases, by the way, account for 7 of all dementia cases worldwide.

What is 'Nuka', the robot sea lion with IA?

However, before this ingenious project can begin to be detailed, the neural basis of this widespread and degenerative mental health disease must be elucidated. We are talking about a progressive and neurodegenerative disease that settles and worsens with age, as the beta-amyloid protein secreted by neurons and responsible for maintaining the transmission of information between neurons is damaged.

So yes, Alzheimer's occurs when this protein accumulates too much in the brain, misfolding and infiltrating this important organ, ultimately having only a neurotoxic effect.

And although there is currently no effective treatment that manages to avoid the aggregation and neurotoxicity of this beta-amyloid protein, artificial intelligence (IA), the forerunner of Alzheimer's, has managed to manufacture different tools that help people suffering from this variant of dementia. This time, of course, we're talking about the robotic sea lion 'Nuka'.

Thus, the Molecular Physiology Laboratories (MELIS) of the Department of Medicine and Life Sciences of Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) in Barcelona CREA) has programmed the first of its researches with 'Nuka', a robot that looks like a baby seal.

The center, now based in Salamanca, has been using this AA spirit stamp robot for more than a decade, offering professional and appropriate attention to all users who approach its facilities, achieving positive results from the first minute.

'Nuka' is a non-pharmacological therapy, and its contributions will be reflected in a future Spanish study, after ten years without scientific support in the country, although it has already made specialized reports of interest in other international regions, where the name the project has been 'Personal Assistant Robot' (PARO), although in Spain the nickname 'Nuka' is more successful.

The work of Japanese professor Takanori Shibata and a device produced by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) is a device that has been showing positive effects on CREA regulars for years, especially those with anxiety or depression, dementia or dementia symptoms. disturbance.

The future trial will have a clinical essence and will be multicenter and randomized, for which it will have the technical support of the Evaluation and Planning Service of the Health Service of the Canary Islands. This entity has not hesitated to offer its evaluation approach to the project of this health technology, undertaking to evaluate its "effectiveness".

When robotics is put to the service of health

As a small robotic stuffed animal, the concept of the 'Nuka' idea is based on the evolution of animal therapy, while reflecting a calm appearance, which also contributes to its cuddly appearance. The gestures and sounds emitted by this robotic sea dog certainly help end the love for this device, even though it's only a prototype that responds to touch and words... for now.

Going into details, the 'Nuka' has several sensors responsible for detecting the origin of the sound, and at the same time, it exhibits enough artificial intelligence that gives it the ability to respond to the name given to it by its owners.

One of its advantages? It can also help children with communication problems.

"It's a therapeutic robot that will never take over the jobs of healthcare workers," Shibata said. "It is a very helpful tool to improve people's condition", so much so that "care centers that use this friendly seal in their therapies confirm that 'Nuka' has succeeded in reducing the stress of patients and caregivers, while it "leaves" communication between them. ” All this for its users, not to mention the great psychological impact it has given them, relaxing, socializing, etc.