Evidence-Based Research

Research Sources

Scientific studies and case studies supporting the effectiveness of AI companionship and voice preservation in reducing loneliness and improving emotional well-being.

Key Statistics

Research-backed statistics from leading institutions

60%
Social Isolation

of nursing home residents get no regular visitors

Texas Health Care Association, 2019

43%
Social Isolation

of adults over 60 report feeling lonely

National Academies Press, 2022

+31%
Social Isolation

increase in dementia risk due to loneliness

National Institute on Aging, 2025

-20%
Social Isolation

loneliness with regular phone-based engagement

HHS, Surgeon General, 2023

-51%
AI Companionship

reduction in depression symptoms with AI companions

Dartmouth University, 2025

-31%
AI Companionship

Reduction in anxiety symptoms by regularly talking to an AI companion

Dartmouth University, 2025

Loneliness & Social Isolation Research

Understanding the scope and impact of loneliness in modern society

Loneliness and Social Isolation in the United States, Europe, and Japan

Holt-Lunstad, J., et al. • American Psychological Association • 2023

  • 61% of young adults (18-25) report serious loneliness
  • Social isolation increases risk of premature death by 50%
  • Loneliness is as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes per day

The Loneliness Epidemic: How Social Isolation is Harming Our Health

Cacioppo, J.T., & Cacioppo, S. • University of Chicago • 2018

  • Loneliness directly linked to multiple chronic conditions, and increases overall morbidity and mortality
  • Major predictor of depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline in elderly populations
  • Social connection is a fundamental human need

The National Imperative to Improve Nursing Home Quality

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine • National Academies Press • 2022

  • Nearly one-quarter of Americans aged 65 or older are considered socially isolated
  • 43% of adults over 60 report feeling lonely
  • Residing in a nursing home can exacerbate feelings of loneliness and isolation
  • Social isolation is associated with increased health risks and cognitive decline

Loneliness linked to dementia risk in large-scale analysis

National Institute on Aging • NIH • 2025

  • Large scale analysis of 600k patients found that loneliness independently increases the risk of all-cause dementia by 31%, with similar magnitude to physical inactivity or smoking
  • Raises Alzheimer’s disease risk by 14%, vascular dementia by 17%, and cognitive impairment by 12%.
  • 75% of Americans over 65 living alone report poor mental or physical health and feelings of loneliness.
  • The effect of loneliness persisted even after controlling for depression and objective social isolation

Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation

HHS, Surgeon General • HHS • 2023

  • Lacking social is as dangerous as smoking 15 cigarettes per day
  • Chronic loneliness and isolation can increase risk of developing dementia by 50%
  • Social isolation among older adults alone accounts for an estimated $6.7 billion in excess Medicare spending annually

Perceived Social and Emotional Support Among Adults

National Center for Health Statistics • CDC • 2021

  • Nearly a quarter of older adults experience social isolation
  • Social isolation varies significantly by demographic factors
  • Lack of social support is linked to poorer health outcomes

Make Someone’s Day: Visit a Nursing Home

Texas Health Care Association • THCA • 2019

  • About 60% of nursing home residents get no regular visitors
  • Americans reaching the age of 65 have a 70 percent chance of requiring long-term care
  • 55% of residents in Texas nursing homes have been medically diagnosed with dementia.

AI Companionship Research

Scientific evidence supporting the therapeutic benefits of AI companions

First Therapy Chatbot Trial Yields Mental Health Benefits

Heinz M., et al. • Dartmouth University • 2025

  • People diagnosed with depression experienced a 51% average reduction in symptoms, leading to clinically significant improvements in mood and overall well-being.
  • Participants with generalized anxiety reported an average reduction in symptoms of 31%.
  • Users showed a 19% average reduction in concerns about body image and weight
  • We did not expect that people would almost treat the software like a friend. It says to me that they were actually forming relationships, [My] sense is that people also felt comfortable talking to a bot because it won’t judge them

Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis of AI-Based Conversational Agents

Li, J., et al. • Nature • 2023

  • AI chatbots significantly reduced depression symptoms with moderate-large effect size
  • Participants interacting with AI exhibited a significantly greater reduction in psychological distress
  • Users reported high satisfaction and emotional support, akin to companionship
  • Improvements in well-being and quality of life across 15 randomized controlled trials (n=~2,000+ adults)

Therapeutic Effectiveness of AI Chatbots: Meta-Analysis

Abd-alrazaq, A., et al. • International Journal of Medical Informatics • 2024

  • Chatbots yielded substantial symptom relief in 8-week treatments for depression and anxiety
  • Effective for self-help in underserved groups with limited access to traditional therapy
  • Therapeutic effects included reduced rumination, increased coping skills, and improved emotional regulation
  • 18 randomized controlled trials with 3,477 adults

AI Companions and Mental Health

Susanne Reed, PhD • BetterMind • 2025

  • 24/7 availability addresses barriers like stigma or cost, particularly for students & elderly.
  • Increased use of AI companions could help reduce loneliness and improve mental health.
  • AI companions can create emotional validation and provide emotional support

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