Playing Kioku® reduces loneliness in older adults: a pilot study

Psych Matters

In this episode Prof Brett McDermott is in conversation with A/Prof Yoram Barak about the Kioku project. This study is looking to test new ways to reduce loneliness. Loneliness has an incredibly negative impact on health, especially so for older adults. Rates of loneliness are creeping up in most high income and middle income countries, especially for women and men over the age of 70. Based on some research that was developed and tested in the early 2020s and this is the beginning of a journey of developing games in which we share personal true stories with each other and reduce loneliness.
A/Prof Yoram Barak's research interests include multiple sclerosis, cancer, a wide range of psychiatric conditions (such as depression, schizophrenia, and obsessive–compulsive disorder), old-age psychiatry, and suicide. He is also interested in Alzheimer's Disease and has published a popular book called "Preventing Alzheimer's: A Personal Responsibility".
Prof Brett McDermott is an Australian medical graduate who trained in Psychiatry, and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the UK and Sydney. Apart from being a Professor at the University of Tasmania, he holds other academic appointments: By-Fellow at Churchill College, Cambridge University; Adjunct Professor at JCU; Professorial Fellow at Mater Research and from 2006-2016 was a Board Director of beyondblue: the National Depression Initiative. Current position is the Clinical Director CAMHS Tasmania.

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