Innovative technological resources for Alzheimer's disease care management: A scoping review

Area of Science:

• Gerontology and Health Informatics
• Neurodegenerative Disease Management Technologies

Background:

• Alzheimer's disease (AD) care management presents significant challenges for patients, families, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.
• Technological innovations offer potential solutions to support AD care, but a comprehensive overview of existing tools is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically map and describe technological tools designed for Alzheimer's disease care management.
• To identify key functionalities and target users of these technologies.
• To highlight the current state and limitations of technology in AD care.

Main Methods:

• Scoping review conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework.
• Extensive literature search across Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases.
• Inclusion of studies focusing on technological resources for Alzheimer's disease care and management.

Main Results:

• Twenty-three studies were included, identifying mobile applications and wearable devices as the most prevalent technologies.
• Key functionalities include cognitive training, location tracking, reminders, communication support, fall detection, and vital signs monitoring.
• These technologies are often integrated into comprehensive solutions for enhanced patient care and safety.

Conclusions:

• Existing technologies primarily aim to support both Alzheimer's disease patients and their caregivers.
• Significant limitations include a lack of real-world clinical validation and challenges in ensuring usability for older adults and individuals with cognitive impairments.
• Further research is needed to address these limitations and optimize technology adoption in Alzheimer's care.