This paper details the development and implementation of ElliQ, an AI-powered social robot designed to combat loneliness and improve the well-being of older adults. ElliQ proactively engages users through conversation, music, games, and health reminders, aiming to foster connection and independence. Deployed across 15 programs in the US and Canada, initial real-world data suggests high engagement and potential for reducing loneliness and improving quality of life, with some reports showing significant reductions in loneliness among users. Challenges identified include educating users about the technology, providing consistent technical support, and integrating data into clinical workflows. The authors emphasize the need for further research, including randomized controlled trials, to establish efficacy and address ethical considerations surrounding AI-driven companionship. A surprising finding was the degree to which users perceived ElliQ as a friend, rather than simply a technological device.
A recent study published in Age and Ageing indicates that older adults with a history of cannabis use demonstrate superior cognitive performance – specifically in areas like attention, executive function, processing speed, and memory – compared to those who have never used cannabis. Interestingly, the benefits were most pronounced in former users, with current users showing less consistent, though still present, cognitive advantages. Researchers suggest these findings challenge common assumptions about cognitive decline in older cannabis users and could encourage more open conversations between clinicians and patients regarding therapeutic cannabis use, while also reducing stigma. Similar longitudinal studies have also shown less cognitive decline in older adults with a history of cannabis use.
