Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35243008›Full record

ReviewInnovation in aging2022

A Systematic Review of Smartphone and Tablet Use by Older Adults With and Without Cognitive Impairment.

Samantha A Wilson, Paula Byrne, Sarah E Rodgers, Michelle Maden

Open access · goldAbstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Innovation in aging, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 57 papers, 7 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
57citing papers in PubMed, 7 pooled it
53.9field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

57 citing papers in PubMed, 7 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 107 citations in OpenAlex.

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  13. Effects of a Smartphone-Based Mindfulness Intervention on Momentary Stress Among First Responders: a Micro-Randomized Trial.Prevention science : the official journal of the Society for Prevention Research · 2026
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  15. Cognitive Reablement Using Digital Voice Assistants for People Living With Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Co-Design Study.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Samantha A WilsonInstitute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Paula ByrneInstitute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Sarah E RodgersInstitute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Michelle MadenLiverpool Reviews and Implementation Group, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
University of Liverpool · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesA systematic review was conducted to explore the use of smartphones and tablet computers as cognitive and memory aids by older adults with and without cognitive impairment, specifically the effects of smartphone and tablet use on participants' cognition and memory, and the barriers and facilitators to smartphone and tablet use for cognitive and memory support. RESEARCH DESIGN AND

methodsA systematic search of 6 key databases found 11,895 citations published between 2010 and 2021. Studies were included if they involved community-dwelling older adults with or without cognitive impairment arising from acquired brain injury, mild cognitive impairment, or dementia, and if they evaluated everyday smartphone or tablet device use for cognition, memory, or activities of daily living.

resultsA total of 28 papers were included in the narrative synthesis. There was some evidence that the use of smartphones and tablets could aid cognitive function in older adults without cognitive impairment, particularly executive function and processing speed. There was modest evidence that smartphone and tablet use could support memory in both older adults without cognitive impairment and those with acquired brain injury and dementia. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Smartphones and tablets were seen by users as acceptable, enjoyable, and nonstigmatizing alternatives to conventional assistive technology devices; however, current use of smartphone and tablet devices is hindered by the digital literacy of older adults, a lack of accommodation for older adult users' motor and sensory impairments, and a lack of input from clinicians and researchers. Much of the evidence presented in this review derives from case studies and small-scale trials of smartphone and tablet training interventions. Further research is needed into older adults' use of smartphones and tablets for cognitive support before and after the onset of cognitive impairment in order to develop effective evidence-based smart technology cognition and memory aids.

Indexed as

Assistive technologyBrain injuryDementiaMemory aid

Identifiers

PMID35243008
PMCPMC8889997
OpenAlexW4205293158

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.