CREATE: Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement

Abstract

Deployment of technology in healthcare and day-to- day activities is increasing and advances, in technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) are increasingly aimed at supporting older, adults. Yet, aging adults are often ignored in design, and robust research evaluating the, usability, safety, and efficacy of these systems with older adults is limited. Even among, older technology adopters, rapid changes in technology pose challenges in terms of the, constant need for adaptation and continual learning. Further, there remains a lag in uptake, among many older adult sub-groups, including ethnic minorities, older cohorts, those of lower, socio-economic status, those living in a rural location, or with a cognitive impairment such, as Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer's Disease/Alzheimer's Disease Related, Dementias (AD/ADRD). The goal of CREATE V is to harness the potential benefits and power of, technology to maintain, support, and foster the cognitive, emotional, and physical health of, aging adults to enhance independence, well-being, and quality of life. Given that age, represents a significant risk factor for cognitive impairments such as MCI and AD/ADRD, and, the criticality of cognition to everyday functioning, a thrust of the research investigators, planned research is on using emerging technologies to help maintain cognitive health and, provide support for those with cognitive impairments. CREATE V has a fresh vision, a focus on, emerging technologies, expanded research teams, new populations such as those with cognitive, impairments, and technological capabilities., Project 1: Phase 1, akin to NIH Stage 1a, will involve usability testing across the three, CREATE sites with older adults, and heuristic analysis to gather information on user, preferences, usability problems, implementation, and training protocols., Phase 2, akin to NIH Stage 1b, will involve a cross-site pilot randomized trial with a large, and diverse sample of aging adults. Participants will be randomized, following a baseline, assessment, to the VR CAST condition or a tablet control condition, where participants will, be exposed to similar context in 2d (e.g., online museum tours). Following training on the VR, program/tablet, they will use the VR program/tablet in their home for two months. The battery, of measures will be re-administered at 1 and 2-months post randomization. Research, investigators will collect real time data on use of the VR program/tablet. The p…