JMIR Aging

High-resolution digital cognitive tools administered at frequent intervals enable the study of age-related cognitive change at a previously unattainable level of granularity. Computational modeling further enables the simultaneous examination of multiple aspects of cognitive performance.

Telemonitoring offers solutions for remote health management among older adults; yet, acceptance varies based on individual perceptions and presentation strategies.

Delirium is common among older adults, particularly those with cognitive impairment. However, delirium among patients with dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in long-term care (LTC) hospitals has received limited attention.

Population aging and rapid digitalization have intensified concerns about older adults’ digital participation. Although access disparities have narrowed, older adults continue to differ from younger groups in how they use digital technologies, with their use skewed toward instrumental rather than hedonic purposes. Technophobia is a salient psychological barrier; yet, its distinct fear dimensions and their links to different forms of technology use remain insufficiently differentiated. Daily technical support (DTS) may provide an important sociotechnical context for understanding these relationships.

Home-based reablement programs have improved everyday functioning for people living with early-stage dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), but the substantial time commitment required for delivery by health professionals has created a barrier to widespread implementation. Digital technology could facilitate delivery, but traditional devices such as smartphones and tablets present usability challenges for this population. We have co-designed a cognitive reablement program, VOICE-COG, that can deliver personalized interventions broadcast via voice-controlled digital voice assistants (DVAs).

Older adults often face challenges using digital transportation planning tools to engage in meaningful activities. In Sherbrooke, a Canadian city located in the province of Québec, hilly terrain, bus-based mobility, and varied digital literacy among older adults highlight the need for accessible transportation planning technologies. Despite the growing demand for accessible and inclusive technologies, interfaces are often not tailored to the specific needs and preferences of older adults, making them difficult to use. Addressing this gap is essential to support the mobility and social participation of older adults in their communities.

Population aging is a global phenomenon that has led to a rise in age-related conditions, particularly dementia. This situation presents significant challenges for health care systems, caregivers, and society as a whole. Technologies have shown potential to address the needs of people living with dementia and their caregivers, offering support in daily activities, communication, and care monitoring. However, only a quarter of countries worldwide have developed national dementia plans, and even fewer have integrated technology-based solutions into these policies.

While telecare has considerable potential to improve home care services, benefit older adults, and support informal caregivers, its adoption remains limited. There is also a notable gap in empirical research on the factors that influence informal caregivers’ behavioral intention to use telecare. In particular, existing theoretical acceptance models are insufficiently comprehensive, as they do not specifically address informal caregivers of older adults and have largely overlooked the psychosocial outcomes of engaging with telecare.

Remote, self-administered digital assessments provide scalable approaches for monitoring cognition in older adults. Practice effects (PEs), once viewed as measurement noise, are increasingly recognized as potential markers of cognitive decline. As disease-modifying therapies for neurodegenerative conditions emerge, longitudinal digital assessments may capture subtle cognitive changes. Although the majority of PE studies have focused on memory tasks, it is critical to determine whether PEs occur in other domains. Clarifying the potential presence of PEs across multiple time points on the Food and Drug Administration–cleared Defense Automated Neurocognitive Assessment (DANA) platform remains critical for determining whether PEs can serve as a measure of cognitive decline longitudinally.

The older adult population is increasing rapidly and experiences a multitude of chronic conditions affecting quality of life. Physical activity and reduced sedentary behavior reduce adverse health conditions and help preserve functional independence and cognitive abilities, but the older adult age group has much lower levels of physical activity than recommended compared with other population demographics.

Health care systems increasingly offer services to citizens through online portals, which have been found to be associated with patient satisfaction and better management of health concerns. Few studies have compared self-reported use with objectively documented portal use, especially among older adults.

Older adults with chronic joint pain often exhibit decreased mobility. Daily walking measures are being increasingly used in aging research as objective indicators of mobility.