JMIR Aging

Multidomain dementia-prevention interventions delivered via apps have the potential to reach large populations. However, existing trials have tended to recruit more socioeconomically advantaged participants, raising concerns that the resulting interventions may be less usable for older adults from minority ethnic, lower educational, or lower socioeconomic backgrounds, who are at higher risk of dementia. The Tailored Intervention for Brain Health and Cognitive Enrichment (ENHANCE) app was designed to address this by prioritizing accessibility and engagement across diverse user groups.

The population of adults aged 65 and older is rapidly increasing, while the availability of caregivers is declining. Smart homes that provide unobtrusive, continuous monitoring and alerting on clinically relevant changes in daily activity patterns offer a potentially innovative solution for aging in place.

Many clinically relevant aspects of health are expressed through behavior, affect, and interaction, and therefore rely on observation rather than instrumental measurement; yet such information is often documented infrequently in routine care. Dementia, and particularly behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), is a relevant case because symptoms fluctuate across time and context. Little is known about how structured daily symptom assessment can be integrated into routine dementia care practice.

Gamified digital training may support long-term engagement in aging populations, yet randomized evidence linking behavioral effects to convergent neuroimaging outcomes remains limited.

Caregivers of persons living with dementia are at increased risk of reporting high stress. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) teach caregivers mindfulness skills and are effective at reducing stress. Digital MBIs are a feasible way to improve access to MBIs for caregivers of persons living with dementia. Yet, caregiver improvement with digital MBI utilization is less defined in the literature.

As smart older adult care shifts from basic information support to more continuous algorithm-driven care, concerns have grown about whether such systems support older adults’ independence or weaken their sense of autonomy. Although previous research has focused mainly on technology acceptance, less is known about how algorithmic care shapes perceived autonomy and through which psychological pathways this occurs.

As people age over the coming decades, demand for in-home support and other interventions, such as home modifications, to help older adults age in place successfully, is also expected to rise. Smart home technologies have the potential to enhance aging in place by complementing traditional home modifications; however, adoption within federally funded home modification programs remains limited.

The World Health Organization framework for healthy aging emphasizes that the capacity to establish and sustain relationships is a vital component of functional ability. Social robots offer valuable support for this relational aspect, although their effectiveness is contingent upon the quality of the interactions. While it is established that facial expressions and inclusive behaviors can influence rapport building, the combined effects of these elements on older adults remain unexamined.

Smart home technologies are often promoted as a means to support independent living and alleviate pressure on health and care systems. However, adoption among older adults remains low, and little is known about how passive, ambient technologies are experienced over time.

Stroke is a leading cause of global disability in the aging population, with cognitive impairments playing a significant role. Prior research has shown that subjective cognitive concerns (SCCs) can predict later dementia and serve as an essential indicator for poststroke functional rehabilitation. The use of smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA) in real-world environments may help us understand how SCCs relate to daily functioning in individuals aging with stroke, thereby guiding cognitive rehabilitation and prevention efforts.

Against the backdrop of global population aging, the development of low-burden and widely acceptable interventions to support emotional health in older adults has become a critical research priority. Virtual reality (VR) has been increasingly applied in medical rehabilitation and psychological interventions due to its immersive and interactive features. However, its potential as a form of digital therapy that integrates cultural content and artistic design remains underexplored, particularly with respect to the mechanisms through which such experiences facilitate emotional regulation in older populations. Empirical studies combining subjective emotional outcomes with objective physiological indicators are especially scarce.

Medication adherence technologies (MATs) offer innovative solutions to support older adults in managing complex medication regimens, yet usability challenges can prevent their successful use. Older adults often face cognitive, physical, sensory, motivational, and environmental barriers, which can influence how they interact with these devices. Therefore, performance-based usability testing is essential for identifying usability issues.