IoMT and Data Privacy in Alzheimer’s Care for Older Adults: A Systematic Review

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The use of medical Internet of Things (IoT) devices becomes essential in everyday healthcare routines as the older adults confront an increasing risk of cyber victimization because of Alzheimer's illness. Despite the myriad benefits of IoT devices, escalating concerns about data privacy and cybersecurity loom larger, given the cognitive and physical decline associated with Alzheimer's. OBJECTIVES: Focusing on the challenges faced by older adults, especially those with Alzheimer's, this study aims to investigate the data privacy and security risks and advocates for specialized education and user-friendly interfaces to narrow the digital divide. METHODS: Eighteen peer-reviewed articles were selected based on predefined inclusion criteria, focusing on older adults or Alzheimer's patients, IoMT in healthcare, and data privacy or security concerns. Searches were conducted in PubMed and IEEE Xplore, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. A structured data extraction matrix informed by Grounded Theory was used to chart and analyze key themes across selected studies, including types of vulnerabilities, consequences, and proposed solutions. RESULTS: Recurring vulnerabilities included social engineering, data breaches, weak authentication, and poor access control. Effective mitigation strategies identified include patient and caregiver education, improved informed consent procedures, robust encryption, and data governance reforms. CONCLUSION: Smart home technology and the digitization of the healthcare field have shown great promise in caring for Alzheimer's patients, positively affecting their ability to live on their own safely. They also create new challenges with the need to protect the sensitive information they gather. Our research emphasizes developing strategies that can create awareness and educate patients and their caregivers to further reduce the risks related to data security.