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BabaCare: Testing an AI Phone Companion for Loneliness and Mood

This study is testing Baba, an AI phone companion that uses a special computer program (large language model) to have conversations with older adults. Baba aims to improve emotional well-being, social connection, and thinking skills by talking to you and noticing changes in your mood. It works through regular phone calls and texts, so you don't need special apps or Wi-Fi. We want to see if Baba can help reduce feelings of loneliness and improve your mood. You might be able to join if you are 65 or older, live alone, and sometimes feel exhausted. We will measure your loneliness and mood after 12 weeks to see if Baba is helpful. The current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design
This is an interventional study with a planned enrollment of 40 participants. It is designed to evaluate the feasibility, usability, and preliminary impact of the Baba platform.
What's involved
You would regularly engage with Baba for 12 weeks. Your loneliness and mood will be assessed at the end of this period.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your loneliness and mood will be assessed at 12 weeks after starting the intervention.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07689526

BabaCare: Testing a Care Copilot

Recruiting
NAAges 65+InterventionalTreatment
Johns Hopkins University
~40 participants
Updated 2026-07-08 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:AI phone companion

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Loneliness as assessed by the UCLA Loneliness Scale
Measured over 12 weeks
+2 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Loneliness
Mood

Explore related trials

LonelinessMood Disorder

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Maryland1

Study leadership

  • Peter M Abadir, M.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Johns Hopkins University

Who to contact

JACQUELINE M LANGDON, M.S.
[email protected]
410-550-2052
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Lives alone
Responds "occasionally" or "most" to the exhaustion questionnaire:
Willingness and ability to regularly engage with Baba for 12 weeks

Exclusion

Significant cognitive impairment that prevents consent or participation
Inability to communicate via SMS or phone
Severe hearing or speech impairment precluding use of voice interaction

What this trial measures

  • Loneliness as assessed by the UCLA Loneliness Scale12 weeks

    Pre- and post-pilot assessments will measure changes in self-reported loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale). Score range 20-80, higher score worse loneliness.

  • Mood as assessed by the Patient Health Questionnare (PHQ-9)12 weeks

    Pre- and post-pilot assessments will measure changes in self-reported mood (PHQ-9 or GDS). Total score range 0 to 27, with higher score indicating more severe depressive symptoms

  • Mood as assessed by the Geriatric Depression scale (GDS)12 weeks

    Pre- and post-pilot assessments will measure changes in self-reported mood Total score range 0-15, with higher score indicating worse depression. A score ≥ 5 typically suggests depression.