Events

2025 a2 National Symposium Keynote Speech: Pattie Maes, PhD– Opportunities for AI and Wearables to Support Healthy Aging

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As the global population ages, cognitive decline and social isolation pose significant challenges to independent living and well-being. In this keynote, Dr. Pattie Maes presents a series of innovative research initiatives from the MIT Media Lab’s Fluid Interfaces group that explore how artificial intelligence (AI) and wearable technologies can support healthy aging. Through participatory design workshops with older adults (ages 70–94), her team identified key areas of need, including memory support, communication assistance, health monitoring, and social connection. Prototypes such as MemPal, a wearable memory assistant using multimodal AI to track daily activities and locate lost objects, and a voice-based memory augmentation system were developed and tested in real-world settings. Additional systems include real-time speech simplification tools and AI-enhanced social agents designed to reduce loneliness by promoting and supporting human relationships.

Continue Reading2025 a2 National Symposium Keynote Speech: Pattie Maes, PhD– Opportunities for AI and Wearables to Support Healthy Aging

Past Webinar – Technological Advancements in Functional Assessments and Fall Prevention, John Ralston and Hamed Tabkhi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37KcJYSMRHE Overview: This webinar gives an overview of two of the MassAITC pilot projects.  John Ralston, from Neursantys describes their work on bioelectronic restoration of the body’s aging balance system.  In addition, Hamed Tabkhi of ForesightCares discusses their product, AVA, which is an AI-powered, video-based mobile app designed to enable clinically grounded fall risk assessments directly in the home. Abstracts: Wearable diagnostic sensors and personalized bioelectronic therapeutics for the treatment of neurophysiological conditions Bioelectronics has been an important component of modern medicine for more than half a century, because of the ability to provide functional recovery for conditions with limited pharmaceutical treatment options. Bioelectronic devices have now received regulatory approval for a growing range of medical conditions and have been shown to provide effective treatment for a growing range of neurological conditions.In this talk we will review the…

Continue ReadingPast Webinar – Technological Advancements in Functional Assessments and Fall Prevention, John Ralston and Hamed Tabkhi

Past Webinar – The Impact of Light Exposure on Sleep: A Pilot Study, Erik Page (Blue Iris Labs)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcBlsqpNYeg Abstract: Light exposure is the primary regulator of human circadian rhythms, influencing many aspects of our physiology and behavior, including sleep, alertness, and mood, as well as many neuroendocrine and cognitive functions. While we have evolved experiencing “bright days and dark nights,” most of us now experience significantly darker days and brighter nights than our pre-modern ancestors, likely resulting in widespread circadian disruption. And as we age, the relationship between light exposure, circadian rhythms, and sleep can be further compromised both through normal aging (e.g., less light reaching the retina due to clouding of the lens) and age-related risk factors, such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), which is known to damage the brain’s master clock. This webinar will review the current science related to light exposure, circadian rhythms, and sleep, looking at aging and AD…

Continue ReadingPast Webinar – The Impact of Light Exposure on Sleep: A Pilot Study, Erik Page (Blue Iris Labs)

Publication: Returning Individualized Wearable Sensor Results to Older Adult Research Participants: A Pilot Study

Authors: Shelby L Bachman, Krista S Leonard-Corzo, Jennifer M Blankenship, Michael A Busa, Corinna Serviente, Matthew W Limoges, Robert T Marcotte, Ieuan Clay, Kate Lyden Abstract Background: Wearable sensors that monitor physical behaviors are increasingly adopted in clinical research. Older adult research participants have expressed interest in tracking and receiving feedback on their physical behaviors. Simultaneously, researchers and clinical trial sponsors are interested in returning results to participants, but the question of how to return individual study results derived from research-grade wearable sensors remains unanswered. In this study, we (1) assessed the feasibility of returning individual physical behavior results to older adult research participants and (2) obtained participant feedback on the returned results. Methods: Older adult participants (N = 20; ages 67-96) underwent 14 days of remote monitoring with 2 wearable sensors. We then used a semiautomated…

Continue ReadingPublication: Returning Individualized Wearable Sensor Results to Older Adult Research Participants: A Pilot Study

Past Webinar – Harnessing the Power of Technology to Change the Way We Age, Alex Glazebrook (OATS from AARP)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ao6Sif3Q5Y Abstract: Our society is aging alongside a rapid increase in the evolution and advancement of technology that mediates daily life. The use and adoption of technology by older adults has increased in the recent past, but differences remain with their younger counterparts and the effects of digital disconnection in later life are more acute. This session will present recent technology adoption and use trends among older adults as well as accompanying solutions that can aid in the adoption of technology by older adults, including future directions and expected developments. Biography: Alex Glazebrook, PhD, VP of Programs at Older Adults Technology Services from AARP As VP of Programs, Alex Glazebrook is responsible for ensuring an outstanding experience for the older adults who participate in the many training and support programs that OATS offers. Alex earned…

Continue ReadingPast Webinar – Harnessing the Power of Technology to Change the Way We Age, Alex Glazebrook (OATS from AARP)

Past Webinar – Progress in Personalizing Content and Dosing of a Physical Activity Promotion Intervention, David E. Conroy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzI9xjFMRsg Abstract: The Michigan Roybal Center aims to develop physical activity interventions for middle-age and older adults that engage validated mechanisms for adhering to behavior change following the end of active intervention support. This talk will review our ongoing work (a) to develop person-specific dosing algorithms to select the content and timing of text messages and (b) to engineer prompts for generative artificial intelligence systems to author message content that activates affective motivational processes to promote physical activity. The long-term objective of fusing these personalization strategies is to improve adherence to behavior change and reduce risk for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Biography: David Conroy, PhD, Professor and the Bickner Chair in Kinesiology at the University of Michigan Dr. Conroy is a Professor and the Bickner Chair in Kinesiology at the University of Michigan where he…

Continue ReadingPast Webinar – Progress in Personalizing Content and Dosing of a Physical Activity Promotion Intervention, David E. Conroy