Healthc Inform Res.  2017 Apr;23(2):87-93. 10.4258/hir.2017.23.2.87.

Tackling the Challenge of the Aging Society: Detecting and Preventing Cognitive and Physical Decline through Games and Consumer Technologies

Affiliations
  • 1European Chapter of the International Society of Digital Medicine, Alderton, UK. david@davidwortley.com
  • 2Office of Public Health Studies, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA.
  • 3Department of Economics, Sogang University, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract


OBJECTIVES
This study seeks to review some of the approaches employed to address health and well-being issues in the elderly population.
METHODS
This article reviews and analyses a range of projects and approaches designed for the elderly population and aimed at preserving and/or enhancing physical and cognitive capabilities in later life.
RESULTS
Various intervention measures have been developed across the globe to preserve and/or enhance physical and cognitive capabilities of the elderly population. A selection of these measures is described in this article.
CONCLUSIONS
Approaches which combine games psychology and mechanics with enabling technologies designed to engage, influence and motivate elderly people can encourage healthy active aging lifestyles. Healthy active aging helps to realise a double dividend of reduced healthcare costs and an improved quality of life for the elder citizen.

Keyword

Aging; Cognitive Therapy; Exercise Therapy; Technology; Aged

MeSH Terms

Aged
Aging*
Cognitive Therapy
Exercise Therapy
Health Care Costs
Humans
Life Style
Mechanics
Psychology
Quality of Life

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