Researchers advance personalized puzzle system to support people living with dementia
With new funding, the team is enhancing the Jigsawdio puzzle for broader use, with a focus on a version compatible with tablets and additional languages.
A puzzle aimed at improving cognitive function for adults with dementia has photos of people and experiences important to the user, as well as related sounds and messages.
A team of Texas A&M researchers developing a multi-sensory puzzle system for people living with dementia is taking the next steps to introduce the technology to a wider audience.
The interactive puzzle is produced by Jigsawdio, a North Carolina-based company founded in 2021. The puzzle is designed to engage people living with dementia through personalized images and audio recordings. It features large, easy-to-handle pieces that trigger meaningful sounds or messages when placed correctly, connecting users with familiar voices and memories.
Junhyoung “Paul” Kim, a health behavior expert with the Texas A&M University School of Public Health, led the first phase of testing while at Indiana University, designing and testing the puzzle with dementia patients and finding improvements in memory and cognition.
“As users work through the puzzles, they see photos of meaningful life experiences and people and hear related sounds or messages,” Kim said. “Research has shown that this engagement helps people with dementia recall memories and the emotions associated with them.”
The research team at Texas A&M includes Marcia Ory, Regents and Distinguished Professor of environmental and occupational health, and Gang Han in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. The project also includes collaborators from Duke University and Jigsawdio. The National Institute on Aging has awarded the team a $2.5 million grant for the two-year second phase of testing.
“Our goals in this second phase are to finalize the software and prepare the technology for broader dissemination, including making the puzzle more affordable and adding options in Spanish and other languages,” Ory said.
The team also plans to introduce a customizable modular version for tablet devices such as iPads and Androids that will also offer guidance in completing the puzzle. They will test this version with individuals with late-stage, mild cognitive impairment or mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
“Emotional well-being is vital for those living with dementia,” Kim said. “By combining puzzles with personalized memories in the Jigsawdio puzzle, we aim to provide comfort, cognitive stimulation and social connection.”
