Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement - CREATE

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Project Summary The landscape of aging and technology has changed dramatically. Uptake of technology is increasing among aging adults; more researchers are focusing on this topic (many of whom are CREATE progeny); technology is increasingly being considered as a solution for the support needs of aging adults; and more technology products are marketed to seniors. These trends underscore the continued significance of the Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement (CREATE). Deployment of technology in healthcare and day-to-day activities is increasing and advances in technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) are increasingly aimed at supporting older adults. Yet, aging adults are often ignored in design, and robust research evaluating the usability, safety, and efficacy of these systems with older adults is limited. Even among older technology adopters, rapid changes in technology pose challenges in terms of the constant need for adaptation and continual learning. Further, there remains a lag in uptake among many older adult sub-groups, including ethnic minorities, older cohorts, those of lower socio-economic status, those living in a rural location, or with a cognitive impairment such as Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer's Disease/Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD). This application is a request for continued support for CREATE, an established multidisciplinary, cohesive, highly productive, and innovative Center that focuses on aging adults and technology interactions. CREATE’s goal is to ensure that older adults are able to use and realize the benefits of technology. CREATE V has a new vision, expanded research program and teams, and target populations, such as those with MCI, expanded technical expertise, and access to an array of resources, community and clinical partners. Given that age is a significant risk factor for cognitive impairments such as MCI and AD/ADRD, and the criticality of cognition to everyday functioning, a thrust of our planned research is on using emerging technologies to help maintain cognitive health and provide support for those with cognitive impairments. Our Research Program includes three highly integrated cross-site projects focused on: 1) enhancing cognitive health and cognitive and social engagement and preventing cognitive impairment; 2) providing support for adults with MCI and using innovative techniques to assess further cognitive decline such as conversion to AD/ADRD; and 3) providing cognitive support for health-management activities for those with and without cognitive impairments. Our cross- site approach allows us to examine heterogeneity in response to our promising interventions. Our Program will also include an expanded Pilot Research Program to support new research and investigators. CREATE will involve three main sites: Weill Cornell Medicine, Florida State U. and the U. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. J. Sharit will remain as a Co-Leader (U. of Miami). We will also draw on faculty support from other campuses and institutions. The Center will include Administrative, Data and Technical Development, and Dissemination Cores, External Scientific and Community Advisory Boards, and an Industry Advisory Council.