The University of Melbourne has announced that its music-based app, MATCH, aimed at aiding dementia patients with agitation behaviors, will receive a $1.3 million grant from Google. The app, which harnesses the therapeutic potential of music, will use wearable sensors and AI-driven music adaptive systems to identify early signs of agitation behaviors and offer music-based interventions to regulate mood. The project, known as Music Attuned Technology - Care via eHealth (MATCH), aims to create a better everyday life for people living with dementia.

Professor Felicity Baker, the principal investigator of the MATCH project, highlighted the significant decrease in agitation and reduction in care costs achieved through music attunement intervention. However, due to a shortage of music therapists, the intervention is often not available when episodes of agitation occur. By combining personally preferred music with wearable sensor technology and AI, the project will be able to provide early detection and treatment of agitation.

The MATCH app's AI system will continuously learn each individual's distinct agitation patterns and effective music interventions. This approach ensures that dementia patients receive customized music interventions tailored to alleviate their agitation. The project is part of Google.org's $25 million philanthropic initiative to advance projects leveraging AI for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The University of Melbourne is the sole Australian entity chosen to receive support from Google.org's challenge aimed at AI-driven initiatives.

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• An Australian app designed to harness the therapeutic potential of music for individuals living with dementia will receive $1.3 million in grant funding and assistance from Google, the University of Melbourne announced in a September 13 news release. This support will aid in the development of wearable sensors and AI-driven music adaptive systems, along with conducting a pilot program in Australia. Known as MATCH (Music Attuned Technology - Care via eHealth), this adaptive music tool addressed the issue of agitation often experienced by dementia patients by identifying early signs of agitation behaviors and offering music-based interventions to regulate mood and mitigate the development or severity of challenging behaviors.

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• "Our music attunement intervention has been shown to significantly decrease agitation and reduce care costs, however music therapists, who implement the intervention, are in short supply and often not available when episodes of agitation occur," said Professor Felicity Baker. "By combining the known therapeutic benefits of the patients' personally preferred music with wearable sensor technology and AI that creates a bespoke music adaptive system, we will be able to provide early detection and treatment of agitation."

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• According to the University of Melbourne, the MATCH app's AI system will continuously learn each individual's distinct agitation patterns and effective music interventions, utilizing wearable sensors, observations, analysis, and music therapy in an iterative process. This approach ensures that the person with dementia receives customized music interventions tailored to alleviate their agitation.

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• The AI for the Global Goals Impact Challenge by Google.org is backing organizations with a $25 million philanthropic initiative to advance projects leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) for expediting progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Among numerous proposals, the University of Melbourne is the sole Australian entity chosen to receive support from Google.org's $25 million philanthropic challenge aimed at AI-driven initiatives to promote these goals. Notably, all 15 selected projects will be made open-source, allowing other organizations to build upon their work.

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