The smartphone in the memory clinic: A study of patient and care partner’s utilisation habits

Abstract

Smartphones have potential as cognitive aids for adults with cognitive impairments. However, little is known about how patients and their care partners utilise smartphones in their day-to-day lives. We collected self-reported smartphone utilisation data from patients referred for neuropsychological evaluations (N = 53), their care partners (N = 44), and an Amazon Mechanical Turk control sample (N = 204). Patient participants were less likely to own a smartphone than controls, with increasing age associated with less utilisation of smartphone features in all groups. Of the patients who owned smartphones, spontaneous use of cognitive aid features (e.g., reminders and calendars) occurred on only a monthly-to-weekly basis; by comparison, patients reported utilising social/general features (e.g., email and internet) on a weekly-to-daily basis. Individuals referred for geriatric cognitive disorder evaluations were less likely to own and use smartphones than individuals referred for other reasons. Care partners reported using their smartphones more frequently than control group adults, with 55% of care partners endorsing utilising their device in caring for the patient. Building upon existing smartphone use habits to increase the use of cognitive aid features may be a feasible intervention for some patients, and including care partners in such interventions is encouraged.

Implications for technological reserve development in advancing age, cognitive impairment, and dementia

“…However, at the same time as dementia prevalence and burden are increasing, humanity's cumulative technological culture is producing innovative technologies that may help individuals compensate for their impairments. Self-driving cars and ride share apps might allow persons with dementia to travel relatively independently even when driving restrictions are in place; video messaging and social media may relieve feelings of social isolation and depression; smartphone devices can provide reminders for prospective memory tasks such as taking medications and paying bills; and smart home technology and wearables can monitor the patient to mitigate safety issues such as falls and wandering (Benge et al 2020; Neves et al 2019).…”

“…Two critical points have already emerged on how to foster and optimize technology use for persons impacted by neurodegenerative diseases. The first is evidence that patients with cognitive disorders and their care partners spontaneously report using the compensatory features on their smartphones more than demographically-matched peers (Benge et al 2020). Thus, in the face of progressive cognitive decline, individuals are already reaching toward technology to help them compensate.…”

“…Second, opportunities for social networking may serve as an incentive for older adults to engage with digital technology on a daily basis. Approximately half of patients report using email every day (Benge et al 2020) and 30–60% of older adults have a social media account (Pew Research Center 2018). These social features of technology help to reinforce engagement with devices and cognitive-assisting systems.…”

Tools as “petrified memes”: A duality

“…However, at the same time as dementia prevalence and burden are increasing, humanity's cumulative technological culture is producing innovative technologies that may help individuals compensate for their impairments. Self-driving cars and ride share apps might allow persons with dementia to travel relatively independently even when driving restrictions are in place; video messaging and social media may relieve feelings of social isolation and depression; smartphone devices can provide reminders for prospective memory tasks such as taking medications and paying bills; and smart home technology and wearables can monitor the patient to mitigate safety issues such as falls and wandering (Benge et al 2020;Neves et al 2019).…”

“…Second, opportunities for social networking may serve as an incentive for older adults to engage with digital technology on a daily basis. Approximately half of patients report using email every day (Benge et al 2020) and 30-60% of older adults have a social media account (Pew Research Center 2018). These social features of technology help to reinforce engagement with devices and cognitive-assisting systems.…”