Cognitive Function and Digital Device Use in Older Adults Attending a Memory Clinic

Overview

Journal Gerontol Geriatr Med

Specialty Geriatrics

Date 2019 May 14

PMID 31080848

Citations 23

Authors

Ya-Huei Wu

Manon Lewis

Anne-Sophie Rigaud

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This study investigated cognitive function in relation to the use of a computer and a touchscreen device among older adults attending a memory clinic. The entire sample ( = 323) was categorized into four profiles, according to the frequency of digital device use (either daily or non-daily usage). Results showed that on a daily basis, 26% of the sample used both a computer and a touchscreen device, 26.9% used only a computer, 7.1% used only a touchscreen device, and 39.9% used neither type of digital device. There were significant group differences on age, education, and clinical diagnosis ( < .001). Non-daily users of digital devices had significantly lower performance, compared with daily users of both types of digital device, on measures of global cognitive function, processing speed, short-term memory, and several components of executive function ( < .001). Falling behind with regard to the use of digital devices might reflect underlying poor cognitive capacities.

Citing Articles

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Oldest-Old Social Capital and Health and the Role of Digital Inequalities: Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Valla L, Rossi M, Gaia A, Guaita A, Rolandi E J Med Internet Res. 2025; 27:e62824.

PMID: 39784108 PMC: 11757979. DOI: 10.2196/62824.

Predictors of Technology Use: Evidence from Elite Older Adults.

Wan X, Lighthall N, Roque N Act Adapt Aging. 2025; 48(4):648-669.

PMID: 39744081 PMC: 11684780. DOI: 10.1080/01924788.2023.2282276.

"I'm still struggling with it, and it scares me": A qualitative analysis of older adults' experiences with digital health portals during and after COVID-19.

Hvalic-Touzery S, Laznik J, Petrovcic A Digit Health. 2024; 10:20552076241282247.

PMID: 39372805 PMC: 11452891. DOI: 10.1177/20552076241282247.

Effects of Information and Communication Technology Use on the Executive Function of Older Adults without Dementia: A Longitudinal Fixed-Effect Analysis.

Lee H, Park S, Han S, Lee H, Hong I, Park H Ann Geriatr Med Res. 2024; 28(4):445-452.

PMID: 39327099 PMC: 11695761. DOI: 10.4235/agmr.24.0073.

A Scoping Survey to Inform Design of Digital Dementia Risk Reduction Interventions for Adults Concerned about their Cognitive Health.

Amos J, Zheng L, Eramudugolla R, Andrews S, Anstey K J Alzheimers Dis Rep. 2024; 8(1):697-708.

PMID: 38746626 PMC: 11091727. DOI: 10.3233/ADR-230160.

References

Folstein M, Folstein S, McHugh P . "Mini-mental state". A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. J Psychiatr Res. 1975; 12(3):189-98. DOI: 10.1016/0022-3956(75)90026-6. View

Petersen R . Mild cognitive impairment as a diagnostic entity. J Intern Med. 2004; 256(3):183-94. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2796.2004.01388.x. View

Czaja S, Charness N, Fisk A, Hertzog C, Nair S, Rogers W . Factors predicting the use of technology: findings from the Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement (CREATE). Psychol Aging. 2006; 21(2):333-52. PMC: 1524856. DOI: 10.1037/0882-7974.21.2.333. View

Park D, Gutchess A, Meade M, Stine-Morrow E . Improving cognitive function in older adults: nontraditional approaches. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2007; 62 Spec No 1:45-52. DOI: 10.1093/geronb/62.special_issue_1.45. View

Valenzuela M, Sachdev P, Wen W, Chen X, Brodaty H . Lifespan mental activity predicts diminished rate of hippocampal atrophy. PLoS One. 2008; 3(7):e2598. PMC: 2440814. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0002598. View

Small G, Moody T, Siddarth P, Bookheimer S . Your brain on Google: patterns of cerebral activation during internet searching. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2009; 17(2):116-26. DOI: 10.1097/JGP.0b013e3181953a02. View

Tun P, Lachman M . The association between computer use and cognition across adulthood: use it so you won't lose it?. Psychol Aging. 2010; 25(3):560-568. PMC: 3281759. DOI: 10.1037/a0019543. View

Geda Y, Topazian H, Roberts L, Lewis R, Roberts R, Knopman D . Engaging in cognitive activities, aging, and mild cognitive impairment: a population-based study. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2011; 23(2):149-54. PMC: 3204924. DOI: 10.1176/jnp.23.2.jnp149. View

Werner J, Carlson M, Jordan-Marsh M, Clark F . Predictors of computer use in community-dwelling, ethnically diverse older adults. Hum Factors. 2011; 53(5):431-47. PMC: 3211095. DOI: 10.1177/0018720811420840. View

10.

Olson K, OBrien M, Rogers W, Charness N . Diffusion of Technology: Frequency of Use for Younger and Older Adults. Ageing Int. 2012; 36(1):123-145. PMC: 3370300. DOI: 10.1007/s12126-010-9077-9. View

11.

Munoz-Neira C, Lopez O, Riveros R, Nunez-Huasaf J, Flores P, Slachevsky A . The technology - activities of daily living questionnaire: a version with a technology-related subscale. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2012; 33(6):361-71. PMC: 4722866. DOI: 10.1159/000338606. View

12.

Fazeli P, Ross L, Vance D, Ball K . The relationship between computer experience and computerized cognitive test performance among older adults. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2012; 68(3):337-46. PMC: 3627654. DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbs071. View

13.

Almeida O, Yeap B, Alfonso H, Hankey G, Flicker L, Norman P . Older men who use computers have lower risk of dementia. PLoS One. 2012; 7(8):e44239. PMC: 3429429. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044239. View

14.

Stern Y . Cognitive reserve in ageing and Alzheimer's disease. Lancet Neurol. 2012; 11(11):1006-12. PMC: 3507991. DOI: 10.1016/S1474-4422(12)70191-6. View

15.

Kesse-Guyot E, Charreire H, Andreeva V, Touvier M, Hercberg S, Galan P . Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of different sedentary behaviors with cognitive performance in older adults. PLoS One. 2012; 7(10):e47831. PMC: 3474738. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0047831. View

16.

Kaye J, Mattek N, Dodge H, Campbell I, Hayes T, Austin D . Unobtrusive measurement of daily computer use to detect mild cognitive impairment. Alzheimers Dement. 2013; 10(1):10-7. PMC: 3872486. DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2013.01.011. View

17.

Parsey C, Schmitter-Edgecombe M . Applications of technology in neuropsychological assessment. Clin Neuropsychol. 2013; 27(8):1328-61. PMC: 3869883. DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2013.834971. View

18.

Gell N, Rosenberg D, Demiris G, LaCroix A, Patel K . Patterns of technology use among older adults with and without disabilities. Gerontologist. 2014; 55(3):412-21. PMC: 4542705. DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnt166. View

19.

Chan M, Haber S, Drew L, Park D . Training Older Adults to Use Tablet Computers: Does It Enhance Cognitive Function?. Gerontologist. 2014; 56(3):475-84. PMC: 4873760. DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnu057. View

20.

Xavier A, DOrsi E, De Oliveira C, Orrell M, Demakakos P, Biddulph J . English Longitudinal Study of Aging: can Internet/E-mail use reduce cognitive decline?. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2014; 69(9):1117-21. PMC: 4202262. DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glu105. View