Brain training

Smartphone app improves older adults’ memory performance.

Published on Show Me Mizzou August 25, 2022

cartoon brain using smartphone

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Older adults with dementia or mild cognitive impairment may have difficulty remembering daily tasks, such as taking medications, turning off the stove or locking the door. Researcher Andrew M. Kiselica had a hunch that smartphone technology might help improve their memory and make their lives easier and safer. Some colleagues were skeptical that these older adults would be able to use such technology successfully. Undeterred, Kiselica trained participants to use an app that provided reminders for tasks and upcoming events they may struggle to remember. During a four-week trial, the app not only improved participants’ memory performance but also increased their independence and enhanced their quality of life. This research appears in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

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