Skip to main content

Encouraging Behavioral Change via Everyday Technologies to Reduce Risk of Developing Alzheimer’s Disease

  • Conference paper
Ambient Assisted Living and Daily Activities (IWAAL 2014)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNISA,volume 8868))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

Alzheimer’s Disease is a global health concern, with no known cure. There is evidence, however, that certain risk factors can be targeted to prevent the development of the disease. Most of these risk factors are non-genetic and can be modified by behavioral change. In this paper, we present a smartphone app with a gamification element designed to encourage and track this behavior change as part of a 6-month randomized control trial with 146 participants. Initial results from the first 9 weeks of the study have been promising; 98% (n=102) of participants in the treatment group (n=104) are using the app on a daily basis to check their self-reported behaviors against recommended values, predominantly at the end of each day (9pm-12am). Additionally, based on session duration data, users appear to become familiar with the app following 1 week of use.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Thies, W., Bleiler, L.: Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures. Alzheimers. Dement. 9(2013), 208–245 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Smith, A.D., Yaffe, K.: Dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease) can be prevented: statement supported by international experts. J. Alzheimers. Dis. 38, 699–703 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ridge, P.G., Mukherjee, S., Crane, P.K., Kauwe, J.S.K.: Alzheimer’s disease: analyzing the missing heritability. PLoS One 8, e79771 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Solomon, A., Mangialasche, F., Richard, E., Andrieu, S., Bennett, D.A., Breteler, M., Fratiglioni, L., Hooshmand, B., Khachaturian, A.S., Kivipelto, M.: Advances in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. J. Intern. Med. 275, 229–250 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Lövdén, M., Xu, W., Wang, H.-X.: Lifestyle change and the prevention of cognitive decline and dementia: what is the evidence? Curr. Opin. Psychiatry. 26, 239–243 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Lin, P.-J., Yang, Z., Fillit, H.M., Cohen, J.T., Neumann, P.J.: Unintended benefits: the potential economic impact of addressing risk factors to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Health Aff. (Millwood) 33, 547–554 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Pope, S.K., Shue, V.M., Beck, C.: Will a healthy lifestyle help prevent Alzheimer’s disease? Annu. Rev. Public Health. 24, 111–132 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Mason, T.A., Thompson, W.W., Allen, D., Rogers, D., Gabram-Mendola, S., Arriola, K.R.J.: Evaluation of the Avon Foundation community education and outreach initiative Community Patient Navigation Program. Health Promot. Pract. 14, 105–112 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Krantz, M.J., Coronel, S.M., Whitley, E.M., Dale, R., Yost, J., Estacio, R.O.: Effectiveness of a community health worker cardiovascular risk reduction program in public health and health care settings. Am. J. Public Health. 103, e19–e27 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Lorig, K., Ritter, P.L., Plant, K., Laurent, D.D., Kelly, P., Rowe, S.: The South Australia health chronic disease self-management Internet trial. Health Educ. Behav. 40, 67–77 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Wang, H.-X., Jin, Y., Hendrie, H.C., Liang, C., Yang, L., Cheng, Y., Unverzagt, F.W., Ma, F., Hall, K.S., Murrell, J.R., Li, P., Bian, J., Pei, J.-J., Gao, S.: Late life leisure activities and risk of cognitive decline. J. Gerontol. A. Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. 68, 205–213 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Morris, M.C.: Nutritional determinants of cognitive aging and dementia. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 71, 1–13 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Anstey, K.J., Bahar-Fuchs, A., Herath, P., Rebok, G.W., Cherbuin, N.: A 12-week multidomain intervention versus active control to reduce risk of Alzheimer’s disease: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 14, 60 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Schoech, D., Boyas, J.F., Black, B.M., Elias-Lambert, N.: Gamification for Behavior Change: Lessons from Developing a Social, Multiuser, Web-Tablet Based Prevention Game for Youths. J. Technol. Hum. Serv. 31, 197–217 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Hebert, L.E., Scherr, P.A., Bienias, J.L., Bennett, D.A., Evans, D.A.: State-specific projections through 2025 of Alzheimer disease prevalence. Neurology 62, 1645 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Pate, R.R., Pratt, M., Blair, S., et al.: Physical activity and public health: A recommendation from the centers for disease control and prevention and the american college of sports medicine. JAMA 273, 402–407 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this paper

Cite this paper

Hartin, P.J. et al. (2014). Encouraging Behavioral Change via Everyday Technologies to Reduce Risk of Developing Alzheimer’s Disease. In: Pecchia, L., Chen, L.L., Nugent, C., Bravo, J. (eds) Ambient Assisted Living and Daily Activities. IWAAL 2014. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 8868. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13105-4_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13105-4_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-13104-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-13105-4

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics