Support Newsletter August 4, 2026
Good morning. Today, I would like to introduce a new service that gently watches over family members who spend a lot of time alone at home via telephone. I will also share research findings suggesting that dementia may be related to symptoms of hallucinations and delusions that appear in middle age and beyond. Knowing this might help you stay calm if something happens.
Medical & Research
Involvement of dementia-causing proteins in hallucinations and delusions starting in middle age proven: Tau lesions visualized with proprietary PET technology, expected to be applied to early diagnosis of psychiatric symptoms and development of therapeutic drugs
2026-08-03 21:00 JST / Kyoto University
What is the news? A research team including Kyoto University examined the brains of people who experienced their first hallucinations or delusions after the age of 40 and found that about 65% of them had an accumulation of tau protein, which causes dementia. This indicates that some symptoms previously diagnosed as "schizophrenia" may actually be related to dementia.
Support Tip: If a family member in their 40s to 60s starts saying strange things or seeing things that aren't there, and has been diagnosed with another illness, it might be an early sign of dementia. This research expands the possibility of making an accurate diagnosis earlier and connecting to appropriate care. If you suspect something, try consulting your family doctor or a dementia specialist.
What you can do: If you have any concerning symptoms, please consult a specialized medical institution such as a memory clinic or your local community comprehensive support center. Getting an early diagnosis allows you to prepare for appropriate treatment and care.
Services & Facilities
AI x Nursing Care & Monitoring: Kochi-based startup ElevenLabs reproduces "voices of deceased or family members" using Japanese voice x AI technology. AI calling service "Lily Memory" for dementia patients and elderly living alone to launch in August
2026-08-04 11:00 JST / PR EDGE
What is the news? A company in Kochi Prefecture launched "Lily Memory" in August, a service where AI calls elderly people living alone with dementia every day. It reportedly reproduces family members' voices from short recordings to enable natural conversation. The content of the calls and the person's mood are automatically reported to the family.
Support Tip: Do you ever worry about whether your family member is okay while you are away from home for work or errands? With this service, a call is made at a set time every day, allowing family members to check on the conversation and the person's mood. Having someone to talk to can also provide peace of mind for the individual.
What you can do: It is available from 2,980 yen (excluding tax) per month, and there is a 7-day free trial. If you are interested, it might be a good idea to consult your care manager or local community comprehensive support center.
Today's Terminology
Validation Therapy A communication method that accepts and supports people with dementia without denying what they say. Instead of correcting them by saying they are "wrong," you empathize with their feelings to provide peace of mind.
Tau Protein A type of protein found inside nerve cells in the brain. It is known that in diseases such as Alzheimer's, this tau protein changes abnormally and damages nerve cells.
Thank you for your hard work today as well. You don't have to carry everything alone; it's okay to rely on others whenever you can.