Revelations from a recent study claim that robot pets may be beneficial in helping patients suffering from dementia, and may improve their overall quality of life.

Interacting with an animal robot had a positive influence on the life of dementia patients, and reduced their anxiousness, the researchers claim.

Led by Professor Wendy Moyle, a lecturer at the Griffith University, the study investigated how PARO - a Robo pet shaped as a harp seal, affected patients suffering from dementia.

PARO, which was fitted with an artificial intelligence software and tactile sensors that allowed it to respond to sound and touch by the owner, was able to display common emotions such as happiness, anger, surprise, and was even able to lean its own name and respond to its owner.

The study took in 18 participants, all suffering from dementia and were asked to participate in activities involving the use of PARO. The results so obtained revealed that the dementia sufferers had reduced spells of anxiety and lonliness and had good sociall behavior and verbal interaction as compared to those patients who just took part in group activities.

"Our study provides important preliminary support for the idea that robots may present a supplement to activities currently in use and could enhance the life of older adults as therapeutic companions and, in particular, for those with moderate or severe cognitive impairment," Professor of Nursing at Northumbria University, Prof Cook, explained.

"There is a need for further research, with a larger sample size, and an argument for investing in interventions such as PARO robots which may reduce dementia-related behaviors that make the provision of care challenging as well as costly due to increased use of staff resources and pharmaceutical treatment."

To expand the study data, the researchers have planned to continue a larger study, and aim to conduct future studies with living animals too.

The results obtained from the study are now published in Journal of Gerontological Nursing.