Development and effectiveness of a cognitive enhancement program based on a mobile application for preventing dementia: a study focusing on older adults who use senior citizen centers

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a mobile application on quality of life, wellness, and preventive behaviors against dementia among older adults who use senior citizen centers.Methods: Seventy-two older adults who used senior citizen centers were allocated to an intervention group (n=36) and a control group (n=36). The experimental treatment involved a cognitive enhancement program for preventing dementia using a mobile application for 12 sessions over 6 weeks. Data were analyzed using the t-test, chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, paired t-test, and independent t-test.Results: The cognitive enhancement program based on a mobile application was effective for wellness (t = -3.87, p < .001) and preventive behaviors against dementia (t = -3.98, p < .001) for older adults who used a senior center.Conclusion: The mobile application-based cognitive enhancement program developed in this study is recommended as an effective intervention for dementia prevention in older adults.