Mission Statement:
Solutions to improve brain activity of senior residents using music, art and games
Team members
- Chetan
- Ridhi
- Adhitya
- Triya
- Eesh
- Ria
Team Awesome Adventures #52846
Our FLL team’s journey started in 2021, with the season Cargo Connect. We set out to solve an important problem, which is theft of cargo. Along the way, we learned the programming of Gyro, Lane following, and squaring. Our team got all the way to regionals. Last year, we put our effort into teaching our new members about FLL and how to program using Spike. Our innovation project was about Carbon Capture, a topic vaguely researched about. Our team got champions award in regionals, and went to the next level. This year, we are researching solutions to improve brain activity for Alzheimers, and with one new team member, Ria. Our goals for this year are to improve our robot documentation, programming skills, and our Core Values. We want to continue our journey in FLL for the future years with our awesome team!
Dementia Statistics
Statistics: Number of people affected with Dementia
Worldwide - 55 M
America - 6.5 M
India - 8.8 M
The percentages are increasing year after year.
Chart to show the rate of dementia incidence by age group.
Alzheimer’s and other types of Dementia:
One of the common types of Dementia is Alzhimers. In the beginning stages of Alzeihmers the part of the brain that is used for memory is affected and then it spreads to the other parts. This is the reason patients with Alzheimer’s remember their childhood and long term memories but forget the recent past.
Music therapy is used to treat patients with Alzheimers. The therapist finds the patient's favorite music and plays it or helps make music to evoke their emotions, decrease anxiety and agitation and to make social connections and increase communication.
Using music therapy helped to bridge the area not affected with the area affected in a way to improve the brain functioning.
Art projects can create a sense of accomplishment and purpose. They can provide the person with dementia — as well as caregivers — an opportunity for self-expression.
How Music and Art Therapy helps Alzheimer's patients
For patients with Alzheimer’s disease, music and art therapy can help them including memory.
Certain types of sounds may bring back feelings and memories.
They might remember the songs and titles they once knew.
They might also start to recognize how music makes them feel again.
Music therapy can also help a person achieve health goals which could also be lowering stress and increasing their happiness.
Art therapy can be used to treat mind and behavior problems.
How Alzheimer's affects the brain
Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder that gets worse over time.
It's characterized by changes in the brain that lead to deposits of certain proteins.
Alzheimer's disease causes the brain to shrink and brain cells to eventually die.
Music Therapy
Music therapy is used to treat patients with Alzheimer's. The therapist finds the patient's favorite music to decrease anxiety and agitation, make social connections, and increase communication. Using music therapy helped to bridge the area not affected with the area affected in a way to improve brain functioning.
Factors affecting Alzheimer's
Age
Summary: Older age does not cause Alzheimer's, or Dementia, but it is still one of the most important known risk factors for the disease.
Data: The number of people with Alzheimer's disease doubles about every 5 years beyond age 65. ⅓ of all people who are ages 85 or older may have Alzheimer's or Dementia. The risk of the disease and other types of dementia increases with age, affecting an estimated 1 in 14 people over the age of 65 and 1 in every 6 people over the age of 80, which is a HUGE percentage of the population.
Rare Conditions: Some people can get Alzheimers or Dementia at a younger age such as mid 20’s-30’s, but these are very rare situations. This usually isn’t very realistic, but still possible. However, lots of adults usually think their memory is horrible because they keep an unhealthy lifestyle that includes a lack of sleep, excess stress, and a poor diet.
Family History
Summary: Although family history could be a factor of the risk of getting Alzheimers, there are several components, not only family history. Also, this is not a huge factor of receiving Alzheimers, and it doesn’t apply to everyone.
Data: Family history raises the 2% yearly risk by about 30%, to 2.6% per year. That means going from 20 cases in a group of 1,000 to 26 in 1,000. However, the chances of this are fairly low.
How it’s receivable: All of us receive a gene from each parent, whether it be the color of our eyes, or part of our personality. Instead, it can be influenced by multiple genes in combination with lifestyle and other factors. Along with that, a person may carry more than one or a group of genes that can either increase/reduce the risk of Alzheimer's, which really depends on the person.
Down Syndrome
Summary: Chromosome 21 plays a role between Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease. It carries a gene that produces one of the key proteins involved with changes in the brain with Alzheimer's.
Data: About 30% of the population with Down Syndrome who are in their 50’s have Alzheimer's disease. Along with that, 50% of people with Down syndrome in their 60s have Alzheimer's. As you can see, the chances increase with age.
Head Injuries
Summary: Traumatic brain injury such as relating to the brain or head, may be more likely to increase the risk of dementia. Along with that, since the brain is closer to the head, the memory portion getting damaged has a higher chance.
Data: Studies show that there is 2.3 times greater risk of developing Alzheimer's than seniors with no history of head injury, which shows how that is possible. This is why you need to be careful :)
Research Project Process/Engineering Design Process
IDENTIFY: While researching, we saw that using music we could improve the mood of Alzheimer’s patients. We also saw the bright colors that appear on Rubik’s cubes that can activate different parts of the brain while being fun. We know this because my grandparents were very interested and were playing around with the Rubik’s cube.
DESIGN: We met with Eunice, the activity coordinator at ActiveCare, who mentioned that it could be challenging to understand what level each senior resident was at, to the point where it wouldn’t frustrate them too much. She also said that seniors would feel more happy when they accomplish something, so we added easier activities, to make it more clear to understand for the volunteers. We designed our exercises to be a fun thing to do, and at the same time, to help activate the left part of their brain, which is responsible for different movements and actions.
CREATE: After we decided to make a chart to help seniors with memory issues, we added three main topics: games, art, and music. Between these three main topics, there were multiple activities which are labeled one to five, 1: very easy, 2: easy, 3: intermediate, 4: active, 5: very active. This chart will help the volunteers to know what activity would suit each senior best at the memory care center. The chart would also help evaluate if the seniors made improvements.
ITERATE: After we met with Dr. Uma Devaki, she said that our chart was a good start and that it would be very helpful for therapists. She also said that giving different levels would be very useful for volunteers. Some feedback she gave us was that we could give them instructions for the Rubik's cube as it would make it a bit easier. She also recommended something called Osmo Tangram, which is an interactive activity, and that it would help them stay more active with their left brain.
ITERATE: We also met with Erin, an occupational therapist, who gave us ideas for improvements to our chart. Erin said that it would be a good idea to add Stringing Beads to our chart and correspond how big each bead was to higher levels. She also said that residents like to play with Play-Doh and clay because it is tactile. Erin recommended different social activities; parachutes and tossing balloons; for the seniors to interact. She also talked about the different therapeutic tools that residents liked.
ITERATE: We recently visited the Memory Care Facility once again, and met with Eunice. She provided lots of feedback, mentioning that LEVEL 5 would probably not be achieved very easily, and told us that some options (OSMO tangram) may be seen by the seniors as food, and they try to eat it. She also agreed with what we heard from Erin about tossing balloons.
COMMUNICATE: We communicated to several different experts, including the Memory Care Facility twice now. Our team is trying to reach out even more by creating this website to make the chart to anyone interested. We hope that it helps in reaching out to other therapists and Memory care centers.
FEEDBACK RECEIVED
We emailed several companies, and one came from Disney, who sent us an exclusive article about FLL
After deciding our topic would be solutions for Alzheimer's, we visited a nearby memory care facility. We reached out to Memory Care Living in 4S Ranch to get some information and research from the center.
In the aftermath of our trip to the memory palace, we talked to DR. Uma Devaki, a family doctor, recommended different changes to our product, which has now been incorporated into the final chart.
Our chart was also reviewed by an occupational therapist, Erin, who provided lots of feedback and positive comments.
After visiting Memory Care once again, we gave Eunice, the activity coordinator, our chart to test on residents for 2 weeks, to make sure our levels were correct.
Erin’s Feedback
She told us without even knowing a lot about why we made the chart. She was able to understand the objective of the chart due to it being organized well. She said we were spot on with the different levels.
She was able to relate our chart to Occupational Therapy. She said it would be a good idea to add Stringing beads to our chart. Based on the senior's level we can add big or small beads.
She also mentioned Dementia patients like to play with clay or playdough because it is tactile, and will engage multiple senses.
Erin said that Music is a therapeutic tool. It is amazing to engage patients with Alzheimer’s because it brings back memories. It is an excellent assessment and a great way to get them involved.
She gave some examples of social activities to add like Parachutes and Tossing balloons.
Able to answer some questions we had from the memory care facility.
Dr. Uma Devaki Feedback
Dr. Uma mentioned that games are highly recommended to do last after art and music
She told us to try to create instructions for the Rubix Cube if they got too stuck on it
Attention span is very low for patients so quick small activities are recommended, so they don’t get bored as well
She said that she was unsure about the harder cubes; try adding blocks together; think about ‘osmo tangram’ or any other simple put-together toy
Eunice Feedback
She told us that Level 5 is probably not achievable by a lot of seniors, as it includes harder activities
Some of the activities, ex: Osmo Tangram, include thin tiles, which they believe to be candy and they try to eat the pieces
Tossing balloons (Like what Erin said) would be a good addition to the chart in either art or games
She doesn’t want to give them a certain Level, instead offering a range in which they fit into
Make some ranges that are most similar to one another
Our Point System: Tailoring Activities for Optimal Engagement
MUSIC
Just sitting there and watching
This would be 0-20
Maracas
The maracas would be 20-40
Lap Drums
The lap drums would be 40-60
Triangle
Playing the triangle would be 60-80
Other instruments
Playing other instruments is 80-100
REASONING
Just sitting there and watching:
The first level of music is just sitting there and watching or they can dance in their spot. This would be Level 1 because you don't need to do much, you just have to watch, sing, or just move your hands and clap.
We found a website that explains how music or signing can help the patients. The Fisher’s Center For Alzheimer's Research Foundation states that volunteers and workers should encourage patients to clap or sing along because it can help them with recollecting memories and other things.
Maracas
The maracas is the second level because all you have to do is shake your hands.
The handle makes it easier to hold a good grip
You can either use one or both the Maracas.
Maracas is usually very colorful and attractive for anyone to play.
Similar instruments would be the jingle where you just have to shake your hand to generate noise
Lap Drums
Lap Drums are used as an exercise that can help generate positive effects towards cardiovascular exercise.
We found a website that explains how drums can help seniors with dementia. The National Library of Medicine states that drums is a form of entertainment by the beat of the music and it has and it has a stimulating effect on motor circuits in the nervous system.
This would be Level 3 because you have to have the skill of hitting drums in the right place of the instrument. If you hit it on the side, then it might not make as much noise as it would if you were to hit it in the middle of the instrument.
Triangle or similar instruments
Playing the triangle and similar instruments would be Level 4 because you have to hold the stick and hit the triangle in the center to generate noise. If they hit it in the wrong place it might generate another sound rather than the sound that is generated by hitting in the center.
Other instruments they used to play earlier in their life
The instruments they used to play earlier in their life is level five, the hardest level because not everyone can just play.
They should be familiar with that instrument.
They can play songs they used to play, even if they only remember a little bit.
If they did not finish learning an instrument when they were younger they can play more advance songs of other levels
Some harder instruments are Violin, The French Horn, The Organ, Bagpipes, Accordion, Oboe, Harp, Guitar and Piano.
ART
REASONING
Scribble Pages:
We chose Scribble Pages because we discovered that seniors didn’t like to be told exactly what to draw or paint. The scribble Pages are new activities that will allow them to freely draw whatever they want. This is to help them feel like they accomplished something without frustrating them too much.
Before we confirmed our scribble pages, we found a Harvard Health Website that explains why doodling is good for seniors and the statistics that go along with it. Even though this article is not directed towards seniors (every age group), these are the reasonings that help ANY age group with stress relief. Harvard Health Level 1
We chose this as level 1 since it is an easy thing and you can do anything with the book and scribble all you want.
Playdoh:
We chose to use Play-Doh since it’s tactile and the seniors like the feel of it. We got the idea of Play-Doh since one of our experts told us that seniors like tactile items and that it will keep their hands moving. We put this activity at level one.
According to Menno Haven, play-doh is one of the many sensory activities that seniors enjoy. Even if nothing is made in the end, squashing the Play-Doh can take away anxiety (if any) and is proven as a “soothing sensory activity.” Play-doh level 1
We chose Play-Doh since you can move it with your hand and does not require any brain power.
Personalized Puzzles 2x2:
We chose personalized puzzles as a social and interactive activity. The puzzles are in a 2x2, so it wouldn’t be very difficult for them since they already have multiple steps. The seniors are given a blank 2x2 puzzle, and they can take any art materials and draw on it fully as they please, or if they are more interested, they can just put a picture of their family. This became a social activity where the seniors could give this to their other friends to solve.
Level 2 We chose level two since you can decorate the puzzle, solve it and choose the size of it.
A Coloring Book:
We chose a coloring book as one of our activities for the seniors since it is a fun engaging activity that will make the seniors feel relaxed. This can improve seniors' mental health. Scientists have also proven that coloring is proven to reduce stress and anxiety levels and improve focus and concentration. The last reason we chose coloring and put it at level 3 since it also includes social activities. Level 3- We chose level three since you have to draw inside of the lines carefully
Sites we found for coloring pages seniors can do: Super Coloring,
Painting:
When we were researching our different activities and how they would best suit the seniors, we came across the painting. According to lesley.edu, one of the doctors mentioned that when a senior comes across Alzheimer's, they can lose the ability to speak or communicate. Painting allows them to have a place to put their feelings and to express communication. This is most commonly used in memory care facilities. Leveling 4
We chose level 4 since you have to mix colors and keep your hand up for a while which makes it hard for elderly people. This is also complex so if they don’t make it how they want it, they will be stressed.
A DIY keepsake:
We chose a DIY keepsake since it will bring back the senior's memories and it will include buttons that will have sounds of their past life. This box is also customizable so they can decorate it with stickers and other things they love. This is an interactive activity that we got inspiration from someone in the center who did this a long time ago. Seniors mostly remember their memories from childhood, so this activity helps them. Level 5
We chose level 5 since it is a hard task and this will have you color put stickers and take a few days.
GAMES
Magnetics: 0-20 = Level 1
Tangram: 20-40 = Level 2
Fidget Spinner: 40-60 = Level 3
Rubix Cube: 60-80 = Level 4
Rubix Cube: 80-100 = Level 5
REASONING
For magnetics, we saw that on a website called Progress Lifeline that moving objects together can help improve short term memory. Some statistics show that seniors who take part in these types of puzzles have sharper brains, and the website also says “A study found that doing puzzles could reduce the onset of dementia by two and a half years.” This is only level 1 because it is easy to attach them.
While researching the Osmo Tangram, we saw that the Osmo Tangram can help with problem-solving skills and logical thinking skills. We also saw that tangrams can help with “perceptual reasoning (nonverbal thinking skills)” and “visual-spatial awareness (spatial intelligence)”. We saw that it can even help improve fine motor skills. We used a website called Right Brainchild. This is level 2 because it has to be coordinated.
We saw that when we were researching fidget spinners it can help improve fine motor skills and provide a challenge and competitiveness so that they will have the desire to try harder and spin it for longer. This will provide them with the will to do this and therefore help them be more active. The thing that is great about this is that if they spin it for even a little, they will get a sense of accomplishment, which can strengthen the connection between brain cells. This is level 3 because you have to balance it and move quickly.
While researching the two Rubik’s cubes, we saw that while trying to solve the Rubik’s cube, the mind multi-tasks and can “make you more efficient, focused, and ultimately more confident about yourself.” This confidence can push the seniors to be more active, have a positive attitude, and work to be better. We got our information on the Rubik’s cubes on a website called ipassio. This is level 4 and 5 because there is memorization, algorithms, and movement.
NEXT STEPS
We are planning on reaching out with our chart through this website to give it to memory care centers, therapists, and anyone interested.
FINAL CHART
Level 1 = Very Easy
Level 2 = Easy
Level 3 = Intermediate
Level 4 = Active
Level 5 = Very Active