The Use of Technology to Support Cognitive Diversity Among Older Adults

Older adults represent a remarkably heterogeneous population that is diverse in many dimensions, including cognition. Cognitive diversity includes normative age-related changes in cognition, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and more severe impairments such as dementia. The causes and nature of these cognitive impairments (CIs) are varied, extending beyond MCI and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias to encompass stroke, Parkinson's disease, and traumatic brain injury. When developing cognitive support strategies, it is crucial to account for the wide range of cognitive diversity and the differing cognitive patterns and trajectories within older adult populations. In this regard, intersectionality is an important consideration given the increased diversity of the older adult population and the existence of health disparities among underrepresented groups. This paper focuses on demonstrating how technology applications can provide cognitive support to older adults across the continuum of cognition. Examples of ongoing research in this area are provided from the authors' Enhancing Neurocognitive Health, Abilities, Networks, & Community Engagement (ENHANCE) Center, which focuses on developing and evaluating technology support solutions for older adults with a CI, and the Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement (CREATE), which focuses on older adults and their interactions with technology systems and ensuring that the benefits of technology can be realized by older adults. We describe our research framework, based on a user-centered design approach, that emphasizes user characteristics, environmental contexts, and the importance of including diverse user groups in design activities.