Reminder Apps on Smartphones May Help in Early Dementia
4 min read 
By Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Nov. 18, 2021 (HealthDay News)
In spite of stereotypes about seniors and technological innovation, a compact review implies that older adults in the early levels of dementia can use smartphone applications as memory aids.
The scientists found that older folks with moderate impairments in memory and imagining were not only able to study how to use the apps, they explained the electronic aids manufactured their day-to-day life less difficult.
The apps have been not specially designed. The examine analyzed the effects of two simple smartphone capabilities: a reminder application that presents notifications of a scheduled celebration and a electronic recorder application (these types of as the voice memo app on iPhones).
“We were not seeking to reinvent the wheel,” mentioned guide researcher Michael Scullin, an affiliate professor of psychology and neuroscience at Baylor College in Waco, Texas.
For the 52 older older people in the review, both of those styles of apps turned out to be person-welcoming, and assisted with remembering every day tasks. By the conclude of the four-week trial, members had been supplying higher scores to their high quality of daily life.
“We were happy to see that it essentially improved their everyday lives,” Scullin reported.
It did choose some coaching. Each participant was specified a instruction session not only in utilizing the app, but the smartphone, too.
Scullin explained most had owned a smartphone prior to the examine, but commonly did not use it a great deal.
“Possibly that was for the reason that no 1 experienced at any time walked them by way of the methods,” he explained.
Scullin’s team begun with the essentials — which includes how to switch the telephone on — and then progressed to classes on the phone’s regular memory-help application.
“It truly is not ‘too hard’ for them to master,” Scullin explained.
There may well be a stereotype that older grown ups are adverse to technology. But that is a myth, according to Dr. Howard Fillit, founding government director of the nonprofit Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Basis.
“I will not think the knowledge display that older adults can’t or really don’t want to use know-how,” stated Fillit, who was not concerned in the review.
For a single, he noted, numerous seniors see know-how as a way to keep socially engaged.
But beyond that, Fillit explained, there is rising curiosity in using digital technological innovation to aid more mature adults’ health and fitness — the Apple Watch, and its means to detect specified heart arrhythmias, being a person instance.
And, in simple fact, Fillit mentioned, exploration is now underway to acquire electronic systems that can aid detect Alzheimer’s quicker, by accumulating info on users’ behavior and psychological performance.
Aspect of what is noteworthy about the new analyze, according to Fillit, is the target on practicality.
“It addresses a popular and commonplace dilemma in men and women with delicate cognitive impairment,” he said.
And that, generally, is remembering to do regimen responsibilities, like taking drugs or producing an critical cell phone call.
The analyze — revealed Nov. 17 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society — associated more mature older people who had been identified with possibly early-phase dementia or moderate cognitive impairment. The latter refers to troubles with memory or other psychological competencies that could progress to dementia.
Members were being randomly assigned to use both the reminder application or the electronic voice recorder application that was standard for their telephone. These using the recorder app ended up inspired to record “intentions,” these as, “When it is 7 p.m., then I will connect with my brother.”
Two times a 7 days, individuals were being asked to connect with a investigation cellular phone amount on a unique day and choose shots at a certain location.
On typical, equally app groups attained about half of these assignments. That compares with a 20% price in previous experiments in which people with delicate impairment were assigned very similar memory duties, according to Scullin’s crew.
And most individuals — two-thirds — reported an advancement in their daily memory overall performance.
There are caveats. Fillit said that men and women with early dementia, versus mild cognitive impairment, could have a lot more issue with smartphone apps.
And for some seniors, Scullin stated, carrying a cellphone could present a tumble chance. Putting the telephone in a pocket when shifting, so that both of those arms are cost-free, would be essential, he pointed out.
Beth Kallmyer is vice president for care and guidance at the Alzheimer’s Affiliation.
She mentioned the team “encourages the use and even more advancement of new systems that can aid individuals residing with Alzheimer’s.”
For men and women in the early levels of dementia, Kallmyer claimed, systems like smartphone and GPS (international positioning programs) could assistance them navigate some troubles of the condition.
As dementia progresses, however, items improve. “Even the ideal technologies will maintain no advantage for individuals who lack the cognition to use or realize them,” Kallmyer explained.
Scullin explained his staff options to do a longer-phrase study to see how very well memory apps proceed to serve persons with milder impairment more than time.




Issue

A single of the initial signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disorder is __________________. 
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Far more information
The Alzheimer’s Society has far more on dementia and know-how use.
Resources: Michael Scullin, PhD, affiliate professor, psychology and neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, Texas Howard Fillit, MD, founding executive director and chief science officer, Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, New York City Beth Kallmyer, MSW, vice president, treatment and assistance, Alzheimer’s Affiliation, Chicago Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Nov. 17, 2021, on line

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