JMIR Aging

Dementia affects more than 55 million people worldwide, and its progressive cognitive decline creates substantial challenges for intervention testing and real-world implementation. Living Labs (LLs) have become increasingly relevant for piloting interventions in dementia care, offering real-world environments for cocreation and iterative testing. However, operational, ethical, and governance challenges can hinder the effective implementation of dementia-focused initiatives.

Digital eldercare services are promoted to address gaps in traditional care provision, yet actual uptake among older adults remains limited. Prior research has largely focused on technological attributes, with less attention to older adults’ context-specific behavioral attitudes toward digital services.

Digital platforms disseminating health information and providing support for the experience of non-memory-led dementias (NMLDs) are invaluable. However, the factors influencing engagement with these resources in people affected by NMLDs are poorly understood. We conducted the world’s largest survey exploring the experience of digital access in NMLDs to learn directly from people with a diagnosis, their care partners, and NMLD health care professionals (HCPs).

Internet use may support cognitive health in aging populations, but the digital divide in access and use might worsen inequalities.

A higher prevalence of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia is associated with a greater caregiver burden and increased mortality in people with dementia. Considering the possibility of a reciprocal relationship between sleep disturbances and these symptoms, time series analyses are necessary to explore the associated temporal dynamics.

Older adults often face mobility challenges and usability barriers when navigating transportation options due to age-related physical, cognitive, and sensory changes. While transportation planning e-tools can support their independence, most are not designed for their specific needs. There is a lack of comprehensive, age-friendly usability design principles tailored to this context.

Cognitive decline in the aging population presents an unprecedented challenge worldwide. Recent research has shown the potential of cognitive training programs to mitigate cognitive decline. However, these interventions require sustained adherence to be effective, which can be challenging.

Rapid population aging and the intensifying digitalization of everyday life are unfolding simultaneously in China. While prior studies have largely examined pairwise associations among digital inclusion, social engagement, mental health, and overall health status, few have evaluated an integrated, theoretically grounded pathway linking these domains in later life.

Despite rising internet use in Canada, older adults continue to face significant barriers in adopting and using digital technologies. Digital literacy among older adults extends beyond technical proficiency, encompassing adaptation to new technologies, overcoming age-related limitations, and addressing socioeconomic disparities. Limited digital skills hinder social participation, access to essential services, and engagement with eHealth technologies, exacerbating disparities in health outcomes.

Family or friend caregivers of older adults are critical in helping older adults navigate fragmented health and social systems, but they face significant challenges in doing so. Their needs for support, information, and resources are often unmet or remain largely invisible to health and social systems and public policy. In Ontario, Canada, Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) were established to integrate and streamline health care services. However, emerging evidence suggests that despite the requirement to integrate patient and caregiver advisors in these activities, caregivers still face substantial navigation barriers.

Individuals with locomotive syndrome (LS) have muscle weakness and reduced motor function due to musculoskeletal disorders that cause reduced mobility and physical function. In Japan, musculoskeletal disorders are the most common reason for requiring home support or nursing care, highlighting the need for preventing and ameliorating LS. Middle-aged and older adults sometimes encounter difficulty making a habit of exercise therapy (the mainstay of LS treatment).

Evidence suggests that older adults can improve dual-task (DT) performance through specific motor-cognitive training programs. Recent technological advancements have facilitated the development of novel rehabilitative DT methodologies. In particular, the DUAL-REHAB project exploits 360° technology to develop ecological, cost-effective DT exercises for clinical and home settings.