Mobile Phone Apps in the Management and Assessment of Mild Cognitive Impairment and/or Mild-to-Moderate Dementia: An Opinion Article on Recent Findings

At present, there has been a growing number of aging people. This increasing trend in the rise of older population groups brings about serious economic and social changes accompanied with a number of aging diseases such as dementia. The purpose of this article is to explore the role of mobile phone apps for patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and/or mild-to moderate dementia and/or their caregivers. In addition, the author of this article highlights benefits and limitations of mobile phone apps for people suffering from cognitive disorders. The principal research methods comprise a method of literature review of available research studies found on the use of mobile phone apps in the management of dementia in the world’s databases Web of Science, Scopus, and MEDLINE, and a method of comparison and evaluation of the findings from the detected studies. The results of this study indicate that the mobile phone apps can provide support for patients with MCI and/or mild-to-moderate dementia in their activities of daily life. Moreover, the evidence-based findings from the selected research studies show that these mobile phone apps are especially suitable for fast and accurate cognitive assessment of dementia. They also reduce both mental and economic burden of patients and their caregivers. Nevertheless, more evidence-based research studies should be conducted to prove the efficacy of mobile phone apps intervention in the management of dementia. In addition, companies developing health mobile phone apps should be challenged to tailor these devices to the specific needs of people suffering from cognitive impairments.