Benefits and Barriers of Technology Used by Patients with Alzheimer’s: Disease Impact of Apps on the Brain
This research briefing paper reviews apps used to support people with Alzheimer’s disease and was written by Sarah Downie, Jessica Harraway, Hayli Jang and Anna Savic from Brain Disorders Management. This PDF article is available for download only.
Abstract:
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a disease that can affect an individual’s ability to carry out daily tasks. With a growing demand to incorporate technology into healthcare, apps have been created and designed to address this gap. As a result, apps have been developed with the goal of supporting individuals living with varying diseases such as AD. In this study, authors investigated the population of existing apps meant to support individuals with AD and their pros and cons. A total of 9 apps were quantitatively investigated and scored out of 10 based on assessment questions. Overall, we found that apps can play a large role within a patient’s life, allowing them to feel autonomous, productive, and connected to others. Apps can also support individuals with AD by having them engage in memory games or keep them on track in daily tasks.