The proposed new apps will cover at-home exercise, mindfulness and relaxation, cognitive activities, and voice-based AI-driven cognitive assessments.
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A research team led by Dr. Junhyun “Paul” Kim, an associate professor of health behavior at Texas A&M University's School of Public Health, won a two-year grant from a Korean foundation to design the mobile technology. Helping older Chinese Americans and Korean Americans in the United States prevent dementia.
This project aligns with the National Institute on Aging's priority of increasing Asian American participation in dementia care. This population is the fastest growing racial and ethnic minority group in the United States, yet receives less than 1 percent of dementia clinical research funding.
“The majority of Asian American adults were born outside the United States, and many have limited English proficiency, which prevents them from participating in dementia prevention programs,” Kim said. “Furthermore, evidence shows that this underserved immigrant population has rates of cognitive impairment that are equal to or higher than nonimmigrant older adults.”
The team plans to obtain preliminary data to support a large-scale randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of the mobile app with a focus on cognitive function and quality of life for target users. The app is the latest addition to services developed by Sylvia Health, a Seoul-based company specializing in dementia prevention technology for older adults with limited English proficiency.
Previous research by the research team suggests that the currently available Sylvia Health app improved memory, psychological well-being and quality of life in older Koreans who used it. A new study collects data related to a proposed new app for Chinese-American and Korean-American older adults, including at-home exercise, mindfulness and relaxation, cognitive activity, and voice-based AI. Directed cognitive assessment is targeted. Your app will be available in multiple languages and your content will be culturally appropriate for your target audience.
“Our goal is to reduce the cultural barriers that impede the diagnosis and treatment of cognitive decline and dementia in older Asian Americans,” Kim said. “This study is a step in that direction.”
