ALOR SETAR, May 15 (Bernama) — Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) School of Computing has developed a psychotherapy intervention model based on digital games to address the problem of memory loss among the elderly.
The school’s senior lecturer, Dr Noraziah Che Pa, said the elderly-friendly software technology was developed through studies and research with a combination of expertise from four institutions, namely UUM, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) and the Social Welfare Department (JKM).
Noraziah, who is also the lead researcher, said the results of the study gave several positive impacts to individuals with memory impairment, and had improved memory recall as well as information technology skills and literacy among the elderly.
“In addition, it is also an effort to bridge the digital divide among the elderly as we often focus on digital divide between the urban and rural communities, unaware that digital divide also occurs between the young and old,” she told Bernama today.
Elaborating, she said the psychotherapy intervention or neuro-therapy, was an alternative approach in treating diseases related to memory problems such as Alzheimer’s and Dementia with the use of medications.
“This ‘neuro-therapy’ digital game is specially designed according to the specific needs and to suit the abilities of the elderly.
“Apart from the ability to simulate to restore memory and sharpen the brain, the other advantages of this digital game is that old memories can be captured as they try to compose the pictures in the puzzle game,” she said.
Noraziah said the psychotherapy study gained recognition and trust at the national and international levels when it received eight innovation awards including Best Paper Award at the 12th Putrajaya International Conference on Children, Women, Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (PICCWED 2020); Best of the Best Paper Award at Creative Industry International Conference 2020 (CIIC 2020) and Gold Medal at the 4th International Malaysia-Indonesia-Thailand Symposium on Innovation and Creativity 2021 (iMITSIC 2021).
“The research and experimental tools of this study have received intellectual property protection from the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO).
“The researchers are pleased to invite organisations interested to be Smart Collaboration Partners to expand this study in an effort to provide wider impact and benefits to individuals with memory impairment due to various factors, particularly old age,” she said.
Interested parties may contact head researcher, Noraziah via email at aziah@uum.edu.my or call 012-4726803.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency