JMIR Aging

Major neurocognitive disorders (MNCDs) frequently lead to difficulties in performing activities. Several studies have shown that people living with an MNCD benefit from the use of learning optimization methods from cognitive rehabilitation, such as error-free learning, motor encoding, spaced retrieval, and fading, which promote the safe pursuit of their meaningful activities. However, while the principles of learning optimization methods are relatively straightforward, the personalized application of these methods to the specific situations encountered can be more difficult.

Technology can enhance the quality of life and social engagement for older adults; yet, many require assistance to use it effectively. In assisted living facilities, care workers play a crucial role in supporting residents’ use of technology. However, little research has examined the experiences and challenges of care workers in this context.

Aging is a phenomenon accompanied by declines in attention and emotional well-being. Exposure to natural environments has been shown to support cognitive and psychological restoration; however, many older adults face barriers to accessing authentic natural environments. Virtual natural environments may offer an accessible alternative, but evidence from community-dwelling older adults remains limited.

Spatial navigation relies on egocentric and allocentric frames of reference, with the latter critically impaired in Alzheimer disease (AD) due to hippocampal involvement. Recent evidence suggests that egocentric representations may coexist within medial temporal lobe regions; however, their relative impairment in the early stages of AD remains unclear. Virtual reality offers a promising approach to bridge this gap by assessing spatial navigation abilities and providing sensitive digital biomarkers for AD.

The daily use of digital technologies is transforming the day-to-day lives of older adults. Among these technologies, artificial intelligence–enabled smart glasses have recently emerged, which allow constant interaction with the device itself and with the environment. They are designed to be used for multitasking, including options such as being able to take photographs and/or videos; record immersive audio; make calls; and share multimedia content through voice commands, touch, or blink detection.

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Digital cognitive training, which involves structured, digital exercises designed to enhance cognitive functions, has shown potential benefits for older adults. While digital cognitive training has shown potential benefits for older adults, successfully incorporating it into their daily routines remains a challenge. Community readiness refers to the group’s ability and capacity for a behavior change to be more effective and sustainable. In this study, readiness specifically refers to the community’s preparedness to engage in and sustain digital cognitive training.

Ageist beliefs tend to take root in one’s formative years and persist into adulthood, making it crucial to unpack the ways in which children are socialized to view old age. This study is the first to analyze portrayals of old age in nursery rhymes. Related literature has concentrated largely on the depiction of older adults in books or movies targeted at children. As a staple of early childhood education, nursery rhymes merit examination as a vehicle through which age stereotypes are disseminated and reinforced.

The advent of the Smart Home 3.0 era imposes higher technical requirements for the construction of the home ecosystem. Music is an effective means for humans to regulate their emotions. The emergence of multimodal technology facilitates the use of music for emotional regulation by the older adults in their home environment. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out further research on the emotional issues of the music interaction system in smart homes that are targeted at older adults users.

Remote health care delivery, including the use of digital health interventions, is emerging as a tool for assessing and managing physical function, but its design and implementation often overlook the needs and preferences of older adult end users.

Digital health tools are increasingly vital in rural health care due to widespread hospital closures and the rapid adoption of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rural older adults, a uniquely vulnerable population, face barriers to accessing these tools due to rurality and usability challenges. Although a growing body of literature examines the acceptability and usability of digital tools among rural older adults, no study has synthesized this research to establish best practices.

Electronic health (eHealth) literacy is important for older adults to seek and evaluate online health information. However, there is a scarcity of large-scale data on their eHealth literacy levels, particularly among the “oldest-old” (aged > 75) in unique, high-income Asian regions like Hong Kong. A comprehensive understanding of how eHealth literacy is associated with a granular set of specific health behaviors, mental well-being, and physical health outcomes in this population is lacking.