Thesis David BOUVAREL

Preserving the quality of life of the elderly, or even dependent persons, is a major public health issue in view of the ageing of the population. Indeed, physical ageing is often associated with neurocognitive ageing that modifies functions such as memory, attention, executive functions, motor functions and emotions. This is particularly disabling in the context of a neurodegenerative pathology such as Alzheimer's (temporo-spatial disorientation, specific language disorders, psycho-behavioral disorders). Taking care of people in the early stages of the disease means intervening on the first difficulties that arise and developing compensation strategies before the irreparable loss of autonomy. This is now possible by using multidisciplinary approaches combining a wide range of fields: psychology, neuroscience, computer science and digital technology.
This project has a significant applicative aim: its outcome should allow the commercialization of an intelligent digital tablet, 'Lily', adapted to people suffering from neurodegenerative pathologies. It will include organizational functions relevant to memory disorders (e.g. diary, reminder), communication functions (e.g. videoconferencing, messaging), and also cognitive stimulation functions to maintain a certain quality of life for a prolonged period.
For the cognitive stimulation, our project seeks to explore the motivational tools used in traditional video games in order to apply and adapt them to a specific public suffering from cognitive disorders, where the loss of motivation, the disengagement and the lack of therapeutic adherence is not in favor of the efficiency of the already existing remediations. In parallel, we seek to implement methods of human-machine interaction based on concepts of embodied cognition to anchor in memory key information for the preservation of the quality of life, as much as possible at home. This is achieved by involving emotions and actions as positive factors that reinforce memory processes. Our objective is to maintain traces that are subject to forgetting, and even to build new ones.

Supervisors
- Céline BORG - celine.borgchu-st-etienne.fr (celine[dot]borg[at]chu-st-etienne[dot]fr)
- Pascal HOT - pascal.hotuniv-smb.fr (pascal[dot]hot[at]univ-smb[dot]fr)
- Dorothée FURNON -  d.furnonlink-ia.com (d[dot]furnon[at]link-ia[dot]com)

Keywords : embodiment,action,memory,emotion,alzheimer disease,