LONGITUDINAL ASSOCIATION OF DIGITAL HEALTH TECHNOLOGY USE WITH DEMENTIA IN OLDER ADULTS
2024

Digital Health Technology Use and Dementia in Older Adults

Sample size: 4002 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Peng Wenting, Luo Yuqian, Liu Minhui

Primary Institution: University of Washington

Hypothesis

Does prior-year digital health technology use predict dementia in community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older?

Conclusion

Using digital health technology is associated with a lower risk of dementia in older adults.

Supporting Evidence

  • Seniors using any digital health technology in the prior year were at a lower risk of having possible or probable dementia.
  • Filling prescriptions, contacting clinicians, and obtaining health information statistically significantly predicted possible or probable dementia.

Takeaway

Older people who use digital tools like online prescriptions and health information are less likely to have dementia.

Methodology

The study used data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study and applied lagged generalized estimation equation models to analyze the data.

Participant Demographics

Community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older.

Statistical Information

Confidence Interval

95% CI=0.51-0.74

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1093/geroni/igae098.1081

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