Background: Research shows that older adults' performance on choice reaction time (CRT) tests can predict cognitive decline. A simple CRT tool could help detect mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and preclinical dementia, allowing for further stratification of cognitive disorders on-site or via telemedicine.
Objective: The primary objective was to develop a CRT testing device and protocol to differentiate between two cognitive impairment categories: (a) subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment (na-MCI), and (b) amnestic mild cognitive impairment (a-MCI) and multiple-domain a-MCI (a-MCI-MD).
Background: Loneliness and social isolation are major public health concerns for older adults, with severe mental and physical health consequences. New technologies may have a great impact in providing support to the daily lives of older adults and addressing the many challenges they face. In this scenario, technologies based on voice assistants (VAs) are of great interest and potential benefit in reducing loneliness and social isolation in this population, because they could overcome existing barriers with other digital technologies through easier and more natural human-computer interaction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGerontechnology is an interdisciplinary field of research involving gerontology and technology in order to help older adults identify and slow down the effects of age-related physical and cognitive decline. It has enormous potential to allow individuals to remain in their own homes and improve their quality of life. This study aims to assess the impact of a multicomponent platform, consisting of an ambient sensor, wearable devices, and a cloud application, as an intervention in terms of usability and acceptance as primary outcomes and well-being, quality of life, and self-efficacy as secondary outcomes in a sample of 25 older adults aged over 65 after 21 days of non-supervised usage at home.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInnovative technologies can support older adults with or without disabilities, allowing them to live independently in their environment whilst monitoring their health and safety conditions and thereby reducing the significant burden on caregivers, whether family or professional. This paper discusses the design of a study protocol to evaluate the acceptance, usability, and efficiency of the SAVE system, a custom-developed information technology-based elderly care system. The study will involve older adults (aged 65 or older), professional and lay caregivers, and care service decision-makers representing all types of users in a care service scenario.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMany western societies are confronted with issues in planning and adapting their health policies due to an ageing population living alone. The "NOt Alone at Home-NOAH" project aimed to involve older people in the Agile co-creation of services for a collaborative monitoring and awareness notification for remote caregivers. Our research aim was to create a scalable and modern information system that permitted a non-invasive monitorization of the users for keeping their caregivers up to date.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIt is expected that, by 2050, people aged over 60 in 65 nations will constitute 30% of the total population. Healthy aging is at the top of the world political agenda as a possible means for hindering the collapse of care systems. How can ICT/sensing technology meet older people's needs for active and healthy aging? This qualitative study carried out in Italy and Romania in 2020 involved 30 participants: older adults, caregivers, and stakeholders.
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