Jigsawdio is a novel, multisensory engagement platform that is designed for those with memory loss, including those who have Alzheimer’s, helping them to engage with meaningful aspects of their lives. The platform features jigsaw puzzles that are personalized to each user with images that have special meaning to them. When users assemble certain pieces, the puzzle plays recordings that narrate information related to the images on those pieces.
Whether doing the puzzle alone or with loved ones, users can experience joyful moments — all while engaging in a tactile activity that offers multiple benefits, such as reminiscing through sight and sound, and gaining a sense of achievement with completion.
Founder Amy Young recently sat down with us to talk about the company and its immersive solution to support people with Alzheimer’s and their families.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Please tell us about Jigsawdio.
The name comes from the words “jigsaw” and “audio” put together. It’s a personalized jigsaw puzzle that’s a multisensory platform: You put the puzzle together in a frame, which plays sounds. The puzzle image could be, for example, a collage of six images important to someone’s life, such as pictures of their grandchildren or places they like to travel.
Because it’s a physical puzzle, it gives people with Alzheimer’s an activity to do: They’re touching it, lifting pieces and assembling them, and when certain pieces are placed, the frame plays sounds, music or messages that are meaningful for that person. For example, placing a particular puzzle piece might play a message that says, “This is Sarah, your granddaughter. She plays piano. This is Sarah at her recital.” It’s an immersive experience.
It sounds like the personal element makes the puzzles especially engaging.
One symptom of Alzheimer’s is apathy, and this multimedia interactivity helps people with Alzheimer’s want to do the puzzle. During our research, families of people with Alzheimer’s would tell us, “My loved one doesn’t like to do puzzles, and they won’t want to do this.” But we found that making the puzzle personal helps people care about it and motivates them to do it.
This is similar to reminiscence therapy, but it’s more: It’s an activity that people are doing, and when you put together a jigsaw puzzle, you’re making sense of something and completing an activity, which itself gives people a sense of accomplishment.
What kind of impact are you seeing the puzzles having?
We did a research study with 12 people who have Alzheimer’s and their families. Each had a personalized puzzle that they played over a six-week period. We did mood depression testing at the beginning and then at the end of the six weeks, and we saw really positive, significant results. We also saw improvement in cognitive scores. That has encouraged us to move forward and do a larger study to verify those results.
During this process, the people in the study began telling me all these stories about growing up, their experiences in life and other things that they began to remember — things families might not otherwise ever discover. So I think creating or doing the puzzles together with their loved one can have a powerful intergenerational impact for the families, as well.
What inspired you to start this company?
It all happened organically. My background is in educational technology. I had three little kids, and I wanted to find a way for them to engage with the photo memories that I had stored on my phone, and I asked myself, “How can I share these with them one day?” I thought there must be something out there, like a puzzle, that did this — but I couldn’t find anything, so I decided to build a prototype myself.
The first thing I needed to do was find out if there was any kind of demand for something like this. So I went into the marketplace and talked to people, and what I kept hearing was, “That would be nice for my kids, but actually my grandfather has Alzheimer’s and he can’t remember my child’s name, so that would be really helpful for him.”
I had never considered that this could be helpful for people with Alzheimer’s. I did a bunch of research, and I discovered that my idea could be a really good fit for helping people with Alzheimer’s: Puzzles are good for them, and so is sound and music — especially when it’s all tailored specifically to things they care about. Then, a friend of mine who’s in product development told me that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funds grants to research Alzheimer’s — so I applied for our Phase I grant, and we ended up getting it. That’s how it all started.
What are the next steps for Jigsawdio?
Right now, the cost of the puzzles is cost prohibitive, so I’m trying to determine what we can do to lower the cost. I’ve been working with a team of design engineers, and we’re close to figuring out a newer version that’s less expensive and really innovative. Now we just need the additional funding, so we’ve applied for a Phase II NIH grant.
You can learn more about Jigsawdio at their website.
#SpotlightOn