A Systematic Review of Smartphone and Tablet Use by Older Adults With and Without Cognitive Impairment

Abstract

Background and Objectives A systematic review was conducted to explore the use of smartphones and tablet computers as cognitive and memory aids by older adults with and without cognitive impairment, specifically the effects of smartphone and tablet use on participants’ cognition and memory, and the barriers to facilitators to smartphone and tablet use for cognitive and memory support. Research Design and Methods A systematic search of six key databases found 11,895 citations published between 2010 and 2021. Studies were included if they involved community-dwelling older adults with or without cognitive impairment arising from acquired brain injury, mild cognitive impairment, or dementia, and if they evaluated everyday smartphone or tablet device use for cognition, memory, or activities of daily living. Results A total of 28 papers were included in the narrative synthesis. There was some evidence that the use of smartphones and tablets could aid cognitive function in older adults without cognitive impairment, particularly executive function and processing speed. There was modest evidence that smartphone and tablet use could support memory in both older adults without cognitive impairment and those with acquired bran injury and dementia. Discussion and Implications Smartphones and tablets were seen by users as acceptable, enjoyable, and non-stigmatising alternatives to conventional assistive technology devices; however, current use of smartphone and tablet devices is hindered by the digital literacy of older adults, a lack of accommodation for older adult users’ motor and sensory impairments, and a lack of input from clinicians and researchers. Much of the evidence presented in this review derives from case studies and small-scale trials of smartphone and tablet training interventions. Further research is needed into older adults’ use of smartphones and tablets for cognitive support before and after the onset of cognitive impairment in order to develop effective evidence-based smart technology cognition and memory aids.

Web-based cognitive assessment in older adults: Where do we stand?

“…While web-based assessments save time and resources in the long term, it is important to initially invest in tool development, validation, and technical adaptation. Older adults still face challenges due to the digital divide (e.g., technology anxiety, limited digital literacy [68], although confinement from the COVID-19 pandemic increased technology usage in this group [69,70]. Finally, privacy and ethical issues must be considered, particularly when communicating results [63].…”

The lights are on, but no one’s home: A performance test to measure digital skills to use IoT home automation

“…Previous digital inequality research showed that older people experience more problems when using Internet technologies than younger people (Hunsaker and Hargittai, 2018) because they do not have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with these technologies from an early age (Blažič and Blažič, 2020;. Young people's lives are immersed with the use of technologies such as smartphones and tablets, while the elderly often stick to desktop computers, although tablets and smartphone use are being used more and more commonly (Wilson et al, 2022). This adoption is necessary because these technologies are the primary operation platforms of IoT home automation (Balta-Ozkan et al, 2013;Karadal and Abubakar, 2021).…”

Smartphone Use and Its Relation to Cognitive Impairment and Depressive Symptoms among Elderly People

“…In 2052, this proportion is anticipated to increase to 17.9% (CAPMAS, 2021). As the general population ages, smartphone use will increase among older adults, which has been a vital part of their lives for decades (Wilson et al, 2022). Alongside its internet access, a smartphone makes a variety of activities possible, such as gaming, listening to music, and socializing.…”

“…Utilizing smartphones and tablets can enhance memory, executive function, and processing speed. Smartphones are perceived by users as suitable, enjoyable, and stigma-free alternatives to conventional assistive technology devices (Wilson et al, 2022). After retirement, older adults are more likely to feel lonely, depressed, and isolated due to physical decline, decrease in social activities, and less face-toface interaction.…”