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Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 65 and up

BabaCare: Testing a Care Copilot for lonely older adults

Official title: BabaCare: Testing a Care Copilot

Run by Johns Hopkins University · NCT07689526 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A new AI voice and text companion called Baba is being tested to see if it can help reduce loneliness and improve mood in older adults who live alone.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages65 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment40 (estimated)
SponsorJohns Hopkins University
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Baltimore, Maryland)
StatusRecruiting
StartedJuly 13, 2026
Main results expectedJune 2027
Study endsJune 2027
Registry record updatedAugust 5, 2026
Trial IDNCT07689526 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Older adults who live alone and are willing to engage with Baba via SMS or phone for 12 weeks.

Probably not a fit

Individuals with significant cognitive impairment or severe hearing or speech limitations that prevent use of voice or messaging may not benefit.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This study evaluates the Baba AI care copilot, delivered via SMS and phone calls, for feasibility, usability, and potential impact on emotional well-being and cognitive engagement in older adults. Participants will interact with Baba over 12 weeks to assess how the platform fits into daily life and whether it supports independent aging. Outcomes will inform whether AI companions can be a practical support for social connection and well-being in this population. The study is led by Johns Hopkins University with support from NIA and Baba Care, Inc., and is conducted at Johns Hopkins Bayview Campus in Baltimore.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, participants may experience improved mood and social connectedness through regular, proactive, and personalized conversations.

How similar studies have gone: Prior trials of AI companions show mixed results; this study adds feasibility data for an SMS/phone-based approach in older adults.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Inclusion Criteria:

* Lives alone
* Responds "occasionally" or "most" to the exhaustion questionnaire:

  1. "How often in the last week did you feel that everything you did was an effort?"
  2. "How often in the last week did you feel that you could not get going?"
* Willingness and ability to regularly engage with Baba for 12 weeks

Exclusion Criteria:

* 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

Where it's running

  • Johns Hopkins Bayview Campus
    Baltimore, Maryland, United States     Recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Peter M Abadir, M.D. — Johns Hopkins University
  • Study coordinator: Jacqueline M Langdon, M.s.
  • Email: jlangdon@jhmi.edu
  • Phone: 410-550-2052

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
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Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.