AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) - UMass Amherst is participating in a collaborative study that is researching ways to support older adults and persons with Alzheimer's disease with improved home care. Researchers at the Massachusetts AI and Technology Center for Connected Care in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease (MassAITC) are looking for volunteers to participate in seven studies that will create and implement technologies and devices to help manage Alzheimer’s disease and allow patients to age in place. Some of the studies are offering compensation. BusinessWest honors 2024 ‘Healthcare Heroes’ According to MassAITC, over 90% of older Americans would prefer to stay in their homes as they age but chronic illness, including Alzheimer’s disease, makes that option difficult without appropriate supports in place. MassAITC is looking for participants for the following studies (complete details can be found here): Electronic Caregiver: Evaluate an algorithm that assesses fall risks for individuals with and without dementia (or MCI) through a tablet-based electronic avatar. Participation involves two two-hour, in-lab study visits completing tasks that assess physical function via motion capture and overall health via questionnaires. VALAD: Study validating wearable sleep tracking devices involves one week of wearing a watch, a ring, using a mattress pad and a bedside device, three nights of wearing a sleep tracking headband and one night of polysomnography, which involves wearing sensors connected to wires. Sleepwise: Study validating different wearable sleep tracking devices, requires one week of wearing a forehead patch and using an Apple watch as well as one night of polysomnography. Women and Caregiver’s study: This study uses wearable sensors for assessing cardiovascular and psychological health among female caregivers of 1) family members with Alzheimer’s disease and 2) women at large. Participants will be asked to wear two devices for eight days while keeping their usual routine. Additional optional lab tests will be completed during an appointment at UMass Amherst. Microtask: This study collects digital drawing data from healthy older adults and older adults with mild cognitive impairments to measure their performance of drawing-based microtasks completed with a tablet and stylus as a means to measure a person’s cognition. Dyadic Digital Coach for Oral Health: For this study, participants (and their caregivers) will be given eToothbrushes and asked to use them for regular teeth brushing for four weeks. Brushing patterns and habits will be monitored using a smartphone app that will be uploaded on participants’ phones. This study will also ask participants and their caregivers to participate in an online survey, and possibly in virtual focus groups. Trace: This study involves an ear-based wearable that has been developed to detect orthostatic hypotensive events (when you get dizziness when you stand up). Researchers are going to be collecting data from 50 people with self-reported (and survey confirmed) orthostatic hypotension. They will complete eight-hour sessions during which they will wear the Trace device, an ActivPAL and other wearables (likely Movisens ECG) as well as having video recorded. MassAITC is located at UMass Amherst and is a collaboration between the college and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Brandeis University and Northeastern University. More information about the studies and how to apply can be found on the MassAITC website. Local News Headlines How to reduce risk of home heating equipment fires Bay Path University held its 12th annual cybersecurity summit to educate people about the impact of AI on cybersecurity State House Spotlight: Conferences and commissions Two new Latino-owned businesses open on Belmont Avenue WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.