Exploring the Perspectives of Older Adults on a Digital Brain Health Platform Using Natural Language Processing:...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Digital Health
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Digital technology is advancing early Alzheimer's disease risk prediction and monitoring.
• Perspectives of older adults on integrated digital brain health platforms remain under-investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To understand older adults' perspectives on a digital brain health platform.
• To analyze participant experiences using natural language processing (NLP).

Main Methods:

• 28 participants from Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center engaged with a digital brain health platform for 14 days.
• Semistructured interviews were conducted and analyzed using NLP.
• Word count and sentiment analysis evaluated participant sentiment and emotional tone.

Main Results:

• Word count analysis indicated generally positive sentiment, with frequent use of positive terms like "like" and "good."
• Challenges were noted, with terms such as "problem" and "hard" appearing.
• Sentiment analysis revealed a slightly positive attitude (median polarity 0.13) and moderate subjectivity (median subjectivity 0.51).

Conclusions:

• Understanding older adults' attitudes towards digital health platforms is crucial in the digitalization era.
• Future research should focus on refining digital solutions to meet the specific needs of older adults.
• Personalized approaches to brain health are essential for effective digital interventions.