The science behind it
This isn't a hunch. Regular, stimulating, real conversation is one of the better-evidenced ways to support cognition with age. Here's what we built on.
I-CONECT — conversation as a cognitive intervention
A randomized controlled trial where socially isolated adults 75+ had 30-minute structured video conversations 4×/week. The top responders delayed cognitive decline by 6+ months, and researchers measured real changes in speech characteristics over time.
How we use it: This is the closest analog to what we're building — and it's why sessions are dosed, themed, and why we track speech signals.
Read the source →Cognitive reserve delays dementia onset by years
In large longitudinal cohorts, people in the top decile of lifetime mental engagement had ~38% lower Alzheimer's risk; high cognitive enrichment delayed dementia onset by up to 5 years and MCI by 7 — even when brain pathology was present.
How we use it: The mechanism behind the product. A sudden drop in mental engagement (e.g. retiring from a demanding career) is exactly the risk we're designed to counter.
Read the source →Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST)
An evidence-based, manualized program of themed, discussion-based activities. A Cochrane review of 15+ RCTs found consistent cognitive benefit for people with dementia, over and above medication. Virtual and individual versions now exist.
How we use it: The blueprint for our conversation 'modes' — a rotating menu of themed activities, not a single repetitive drill.
Read the source →Midlife brain fog is real — and usually transient
Around two-thirds of women report cognitive changes in the menopausal transition (especially verbal memory and word-finding), but only ~11–13% show clinically significant impairment, and it often resolves.
How we use it: Why the 'Wife' profile is framed as fitness and fun, never decline — and never makes a medical claim.
Read the source →AI companions engage this audience
ElliQ, an AI social robot for seniors, reported a 95% reduction in loneliness in a NY State rollout, with users interacting dozens of times a day.
How we use it: Proof the format engages older adults — but it's shown on loneliness, not cognition via RCT. That gap is the opportunity.
Read the source →Cognitive rehabilitation in epilepsy
Up to 80% of people with epilepsy have cognitive deficits. Cognitive rehab shows promise (especially verbal memory + visual-imagery techniques), but the evidence base is thin and under-researched.
How we use it: Why epilepsy is a later, more clinical track — not the launch population.
Read the source →Loqua Labs is a prototype and not a medical device. It does not diagnose, treat, or prevent any condition. The language signals it tracks are a personal trend to make conversation adaptive — not a clinical assessment.