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Information communication technologies may promote social behaviours in older adults with dementia

Pinto-Bruno AC, Garcia-Casal JA, Csipke E, et al.  ICT-based applications to improve social health and social participation in older adults with dementia. A systematic literature review  Aging and Mental Health. 2016;21(1).

Review question

• Do information communication technologies improve aging and social health amongst individuals diagnosed with dementia who are aged 55 years or older?

Background

• Dementia patients suffer cognitive impairment and are at risk for social isolation which then puts them at risk for poor social health, which can greatly reduce their quality of life. 
• Currently, there are many information communication technologies which are used to improve aging, social participation and personal autonomy, thereby improving quality of life.
• Although information communication technologies are a promising means of tackling poor social health and unhealthy aging, there is a need to assess their effects on promoting active aging and social health in people with dementia.

How the review was done

• A detailed search of three electronic databases for studies published up to 2016 was conducted. Studies that focused on analyzing effects of information communication technology-based interventions amongst individuals 55 or older who are diagnosed with dementia were included in the review.
• A total of 3,824 studies were identified in searches and six were included in the review after assessment for eligibility.
• The authors did not acknowledge any funding source for this review.

What the researchers found

• The researchers found that there are a wide variety of technological interventions for people with dementia that may help to improve social well-being.
• The review found that individuals using information communication technology interventions had higher levels of conversation initiation than those who used non-technological interventions.
• Interventions that were technologically supported were no different than non-technological interventions in terms of promoting social behavior.

Conclusion

• Overall, there this review found some evidence to suggest that information communication technology interventions may promote more social behaviours than non-information communication technology interventions. More evidence is needed to determine whether similar social health benefits occur in the long term.