CREATE Principal Investigators Drs. Neil Charness, Wendy Rogers, Sara Czaja, and Walter R. Boot participated in the 2026 Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) Conference, one of the longest-running international conferences focused on dementia.
Held from April 14 to 16, 2026, in Lyon, France, the conference brought together a global, multidisciplinary audience to share research and perspectives on dementia, care, and innovation.
Dr. Czaja delivered a talk examining the role of technology in supporting social engagement among older adults with cognitive impairment. Drawing on longitudinal data, the work demonstrated that higher cognitive functioning was associated with greater use of technology for social engagement, which in turn was linked to more frequent social activity and lower levels of loneliness. She also presented a poster highlighting everyday challenges faced by older adults with cognitive impairment and how technology solutions can reduce social isolation and improve well-being.
Dr. Charness presented research focused on developing and testing user-centered tutorials to help older adults with cognitive impairment safely use navigation tools such as Google Maps and ride-sharing apps. Findings showed that iterative design led to highly usable and memorable training materials, supporting independence and safety in wayfinding.
Dr. Boot presented research on emerging technologies, including virtual reality and artificial intelligence, demonstrating that older adults, including those with mild cognitive impairment, reported high usability, strong preferences, and positive outcomes such as improved mood, social connection, and attitudes toward technology.
Dr. Rogers presented research exploring the lived experiences of older adults with mild cognitive impairment, highlighting challenges in social engagement such as difficulties with memory, communication, and attention. The work emphasized the need for technology supports that provide reminders, structure, and assistance with planning to facilitate participation in social activities.
Together, these presentations reflected CREATE’s broad focus on leveraging technology to support independence, social connectivity, and quality of life for older adults with and without cognitive impairment. This was a welcome opportunity to present CREATE work to a new audience, and the team looks forward to the next ADI conference in Delhi in 2028!