INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 04 Program Schedule 02/15/2024 12:00 pm - 01:15 pm Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60) Poster Session 04: Neuroimaging \| Neurostimulation/Neuromodulation \| Teleneuropsychology/Technology Final Abstract #57 Assessing the Role of Smartwatch Feedback in Behavior Change in Older Adults Marina Kaplan, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States Sophia Holmqvist, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States Riya Chaturvedi, Temple University, Philadelphiia, United States Stephanie Simone, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States Moira McKniff, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States Molly Tassoni, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States Tania Giovannetti, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States Category: Teleneuropsychology/ Technology Keyword 1: technology Keyword 2: cognitive functioning Keyword 3: aging disorders Objective: Assessing the efficacy of wearable health monitors, such as smartwatches (SW) for the purpose of health monitoring in older adults has become a growing area of interest in recent years. The current literature supports the use of SW as an effective method of monitoring the impact of dementia-risk-reducing behaviors, such as physical activity (PA), in older adults. Feedback is thought to provide essential information and facilitate an increase in motivation which could lead to behavior change. There is limited understanding of what role feedback in the form of SW alerts plays in facilitating behavior change in an aging population. We applied the Feedback Intervention Theory (FIT), to assess whether SW alerts may have affected patterns of PA and receptibility to feedback in older adults. Participants and Methods: 22 community dwelling older adults with healthy cognition (n =18) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n = 4) wore the Garmin Vivosmart 4 watch for four weeks to capture the duration of PA at moderate and vigorous intensities, daily step count, sleep, and an estimate of stress derived from measures of heart rate. SW alerts that provided feedback about sleep, activity, and stress levels were enabled during the last week of the study. A subset of participants (n = 12) completed questionnaires about their experience wearing the SW as well as their awareness of the SW alerts at the end of the 4-weeks. Paired-sample t-tests were used to compare SW measures with vs. without alerts. Spearman’s correlations were used to assess relations between baseline measures (i.e., everyday functioning [Ecog, FAQ], global cognition, IQ, age) and a change score of SW measures from weeks 1-3 (SW without alerts) vs. week 4 (SW with alerts). Results: SW measures differed significantly such that daily step count decreased (t(21)=2.62, p=.016, d=.56) but moderate intensity duration increased (t(21)=2.16, p=.043, d=.46) with alerts. There also was a trend for a decrease in stress (t(21)=1.35, p=.192, d=29). Correlations showed older age was associated with an increase in step count with alerts (r = .48, p = .03). Greater everyday cognitive decline (Ecog) was associated reduction in daily step count (r = -.43). After the study, only 50% of participants indicated that they were aware of the SW alerts; awareness of SW alerts was associated with higher IQ (r_pb = .67, p = .04). Conclusions: Changes in physical activity and stress were observed when older adults received daily feedback and notifications from a commercially available SW. Age was associated with an increase in duration of moderate PA intensity. Worse baseline functioning was associated with a decrease in average daily steps. It should be noted that there was an overall decrease in steps between weeks 1-3 and week 4. Behavior changes may have been greater if more participants were aware of the SW alerts. In sum, SW alerts may be used to facilitate behavior change in older adults, but explicit training and instructions regarding SW alerts may maximize impact.

Poster

02/15/2024
12:00 pm - 01:15 pm
Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60)

Poster Session 04: Neuroimaging | Neurostimulation/Neuromodulation | Teleneuropsychology/Technology

Final Abstract #57

Assessing the Role of Smartwatch Feedback in Behavior Change in Older Adults

Marina Kaplan, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
Sophia Holmqvist, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
Riya Chaturvedi, Temple University, Philadelphiia, United States
Stephanie Simone, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
Moira McKniff, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
Molly Tassoni, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
Tania Giovannetti, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States

Category: Teleneuropsychology/ Technology

Keyword 1: technology
Keyword 2: cognitive functioning
Keyword 3: aging disorders

Objective:

Assessing the efficacy of wearable health monitors, such as smartwatches (SW) for the purpose of health monitoring in older adults has become a growing area of interest in recent years. The current literature supports the use of SW as an effective method of monitoring the impact of dementia-risk-reducing behaviors, such as physical activity (PA), in older adults. Feedback is thought to provide essential information and facilitate an increase in motivation which could lead to behavior change. There is limited understanding of what role feedback in the form of SW alerts plays in facilitating behavior change in an aging population. We applied the Feedback Intervention Theory (FIT), to assess whether SW alerts may have affected patterns of PA and receptibility to feedback in older adults.

Participants and Methods:

22 community dwelling older adults with healthy cognition (n =18) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n = 4) wore the Garmin Vivosmart 4 watch for four weeks to capture the duration of PA at moderate and vigorous intensities, daily step count, sleep, and an estimate of stress derived from measures of heart rate. SW alerts that provided feedback about sleep, activity, and stress levels were enabled during the last week of the study. A subset of participants (n = 12) completed questionnaires about their experience wearing the SW as well as their awareness of the SW alerts at the end of the 4-weeks. Paired-sample t-tests were used to compare SW measures with vs. without alerts. Spearman’s correlations were used to assess relations between baseline measures (i.e., everyday functioning [Ecog, FAQ], global cognition, IQ, age) and a change score of SW measures from weeks 1-3 (SW without alerts) vs. week 4 (SW with alerts).

Results:

SW measures differed significantly such that daily step count decreased (t(21)=2.62, p=.016, d=.56) but moderate intensity duration increased (t(21)=2.16, p=.043, d=.46) with alerts. There also was a trend for a decrease in stress (t(21)=1.35, p=.192, d=29). Correlations showed older age was associated with an increase in step count with alerts (r = .48, p = .03). Greater everyday cognitive decline (Ecog) was associated reduction in daily step count (r = -.43). After the study, only 50% of participants indicated that they were aware of the SW alerts; awareness of SW alerts was associated with higher IQ (r_pb = .67, p = .04).

Conclusions:

Changes in physical activity and stress were observed when older adults received daily feedback and notifications from a commercially available SW. Age was associated with an increase in duration of moderate PA intensity. Worse baseline functioning was associated with a decrease in average daily steps. It should be noted that there was an overall decrease in steps between weeks 1-3 and week 4. Behavior changes may have been greater if more participants were aware of the SW alerts. In sum, SW alerts may be used to facilitate behavior change in older adults, but explicit training and instructions regarding SW alerts may maximize impact.