GROUNDBREAKING NEW RESEARCH LINKS SOCIAL FRAILTY TO DEMENTIA AND EXAMINES THE INNOVATIVE AI TOOL THAT COULD HELP ADDRESS IT — REVEALED EXCLUSIVELY ON NATGEO.COM

WHAT: NatGeo.com has published a powerful new article that uncovers a potentially groundbreaking link between shrinking social networks and heightened dementia risk, and the emerging AI technology being tested to help counter those effects.

The story spotlights new research from Dr. Suraj Samtani, clinical psychologist and postdoctoral research fellow at UNSW’s Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, whose expertise on the science of social connection is also featured prominently in National Geographic’s upcoming documentary CHRIS HEMSWORTH: A ROAD TRIP TO REMEMBER. His latest findings reveal that older adults experiencing social frailty — the weakening of social ties and support systems — face a 50% higher risk of developing dementia. Yet despite its significance, social frailty is still rarely identified or screened for in clinical settings, leaving many older adults vulnerable and unsupported.

The new study shows that screening for that social frailty might help doctors predict who will get dementia. To explore possible ways to support those most at risk, the article highlights Samtani’s early pilot work with Viv and Friends, a suite of AI companions created by the Big Anxiety Research Centre (BARC) at UNSW and codesigned with women living with dementia. Samtani is now testing these emotionally attuned characters in his research as a potential means of providing consistent social engagement by sparking reminiscence, easing anxiety, reinforcing daily routines, and offering the steady “social scaffolding” that socially frail older adults often lack.

WHO: The story features insights from the following:

• Suraj Samtani, Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, UNSW Sydney
• Brea Perry, sociologist, Indiana University Bloomington
• Sachin Shah, epidemiologist, Harvard Medical School
• Residents participating in Samtani’s pilot study with Viv and Friends

WHY: More than 57 million people worldwide live with dementia today, with Alzheimer’s disease the most common cause. As populations age and caregiver shortages intensify, researchers are urgently exploring new ways to bolster social connection — one of the strongest predictors of cognitive resilience in late life and a central theme of Nat Geo’s upcoming documentary CHRIS HEMSWORTH: A ROAD TRIP TO REMEMBER. While AI companions are not a replacement for human interaction, early findings suggest they may become a helpful complement for people who are isolated, anxious or living with memory challenges, offering a safe, endlessly patient conversational partner that can spark reminiscence, reinforce daily routines, and help preserve dignity and independence.

WHERE: Read the full story HERE and watch CHRIS HEMSWORTH: A ROAD TRIP TO REMEMBER Nov. 23 on National Geographic at 9/8c and stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.

VISUALS AVAILABLE:

• Viv and Friends Photos HERE (all credits to CHeBA)
• Documentary Photos HERE

MANDATORY MENTIONS: Dr. Suraj Samtani’s research can be explored further at NatGeo.com feature and in the upcoming documentary CHRIS HEMSWORTH: A ROAD TRIP TO REMEMBER, premiering Nov. 23 on National Geographic at 9/8c and streaming the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.

SOCIAL MEDIA:
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About Hulu
Hulu is a leading premium on-demand and live streaming service in the U.S. that offers an expansive slate of entertainment from every major U.S. broadcast network as well as 20th Century Studios, ABC, ABC News, ESPN, FX, Searchlight Pictures, and many more. For more than 17 years, Hulu has provided on-demand access to hit TV series and films, award-winning Originals and exclusive licensed content. With Hulu + Live TV, subscribers receive a unique combination of 95+ live news, entertainment and sports TV channels and can access Hulu’s on-demand library, plus Disney+ and ESPN in their respective apps, all in one plan. Hulu is available as a standalone streaming service or as part of bundle offerings with different combinations of Disney+ and ESPN and can be further personalized through a variety of premium add-on subscriptions. Visit hulu.com to subscribe or learn more about the service.

About Protozoa
Protozoa, based in Chinatown NYC, is headed by Darren Aronofsky and his partner, Ari Handel. Their film credits include Aronofsky’s π, REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, THE FOUNTAIN, THE WRESTLER, BLACK SWAN, NOAH, mother!, THE WHALE, POSTCARD FROM EARTH for MSG Sphere, and, recently, CAUGHT STEALING for Sony Pictures; as well as Pablo Larrain’s JACKIE, Yann Demange’s WHITE BOY RICK, Lance Oppenheim’s SOME KIND OF HEAVEN, Josef Kubota Wladyka’s CATCH THE FAIR ONE, Alex Pritz’s THE TERRITORY, Tobias Lindholm’s THE GOOD NURSE, Jack Begert’s LITTLE DEATH, Olivier Sarbil’s documentary VIKTOR, and Brandon Kramer’s HOLDING LIAT. TV credits include ONE STRANGE ROCK, WELCOME TO EARTH, and LIMITLESS for Nat Geo, KINDRED for FX, BLACK GOLD for Paramount+, and, most recently, LIMITLESS: LIVE BETTER NOW for Nat Geo.

About Nutopia
Nutopia is renowned for producing award-winning series on a global scale, combining epic cinematography with premium documentary storytelling and A-list talent.

Recent releases include season 2 of Limitless with Chris Hemsworth, Secrets Declassified with David Duchovny for The HISTORY Channel, and the Daytime Emmy-nominated Shark Beach with Anthony Mackie: Gulf Coast for National Geographic’s Sharkfest.

Nutopia’s upcoming slate includes a landmark 20-part World War II series with Tom Hanks for The HISTORY Channel and Pole to Pole with Will Smith for National Geographic and Disney+.

About Wild State
Wild State is a multi-platform production company that produces Scripted, Unscripted and Branded content across film, television, and digital platforms. Wild State is dedicated to generating immersive narratives that entertain and shine a light on important issues around the globe. Hemsworth and Grayson were Executive Producers on the National Geographic produced Disney+ original Limitless with Chris Hemsworth, and serve as Producers on the EXTRACTION franchise with AGBO on Netflix, Crime 101 with Amazon, and Corsair Code which is in development at Apple.

 

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