DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF MHEALTH FOR DEMENTIA: CURRENT AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Abstract

Abstract Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) represent an increasingly prevalent group of neurodegenerative chronic diseases for which there is no cure. Progressive functional and cognitive decline in individuals with ADRD places considerable demands on those involved in their care, including clinicians and care partners. Mobile health technology has the potential to support people living with dementia and their care team members, as well as potentially prevent the onset of dementia symptoms. In this symposium we first examine best practices in mhealth application development for dementia care based on applications developed for other chronic illnesses. We then examine mhealth applications being developed in three different NIH-funded studies that address the needs of clinicians, care partners, adult day centers involved in the care of people with dementia, as well as an application for people with mild cognitive impairment. The Aliviado Dementia Care app is a resource that enables clinicians to access best practices for managing behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia at the point of service. CareMOBI streamlines communication between care partners, adult day centers, and primary care providers, allowing care team members to track and exchange information relevant to dementia care and identify emerging clinical problems. Finally, Spanish-language information and culturally relevant motivational messages to promote physical activity and delay progression to ADRD among those with mild cognitive impairment within the Tiempos Juntos intervention are presented. Our discussion summarizes the current and future direction of mhealth application development in ADRD, and key learnings from presenters’ work.