Astrocytes in Genetic Epilepsies: Supporting Actor or Key Player?

The aging population is emerging as one of the leading socio-political challenges of the 21st century. According to demographic projections by the United Nations, the proportion of adults aged 65 and above is set to more than double from 9% in 2019 to 16% by 2050 []. With age there is a decline in physical and mental capacities, which diminishes independence among older adults [,]. Physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour plays a major role in this decline, whereas in most cases regular exercise has been shown to help delay or prevent these negative effects [,]. Regular physical exercise has also been associated with improved quality of life as it promotes healthy aging and disease prevention both for people living at home and in residential care facilities [,]. However, maintaining adherence to prescribed exercise regimens remains a major challenge []. Healthcare providers often prescribe self-directed exercises as part of rehabilitation therapy, but patient adherence is frequently low, undermining the effectiveness of these interventions []. This issue is especially prevalent among older adults living in residential long-term care facilities, who typically do not engage in sufficient physical activity to meet health recommendations []. Caregivers try to encourage older adults to perform physical exercises through personal guidance []. Access to such guidance is, however, not universally available due to the decreasing number of caregivers, the growing number of residents, and high financial cost of personalized interventions []. To address this challenge, various technologies have been developed to promote physical activity. These include exergames, which combine physical exercise with game-like tasks to enhance motivation, enjoyment, and engagement [,]. Virtual reality simulators [] and dance programs [,] offer a similar solution by introducing variety into routine exercise programs, potentially improving adherence and overall satisfaction. Humanoid robot coaches have also been evaluated in terms of their acceptance and ability to improve engagement by providing real-time feedback of upper body exercise performance [–]. The envisioned future of humanoid robotic exercise coaching systems is to autonomously track users’ 3D articulated movements, deliver personalized motivational and corrective feedback, and continuously monitor safety [].