# Technology readiness among UK-based cognitively unaffected older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: potential implications for decentralised alzheimer’s disease prevention trials

## TL;DR

This study examines how ready older adults in the UK are to use technology for Alzheimer's prevention research, especially during the pandemic.

## Contribution

The study identifies gender and age-related differences in technology readiness for remote Alzheimer’s prevention trials.

## Key findings

- Female participants had lower technology readiness scores than males.
- Age was a predictor of technology readiness, with older participants showing less readiness.
- Two factors, 'Technology Competence' and 'Technology Trepidation,' were identified through factor analysis.

## Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) remains a global health and socioeconomic burden. Telemedicine has been more widely used since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and may be an effective strategy to mitigate the rising costs associated with AD. This study aimed to assess technology readiness among older adults at risk of developing dementia, with the goal of informing the design and delivery of technology-based approaches in AD prevention research.

Cognitively unaffected older adults (n = 226) from the CHARIOT PRO Substudy were invited to complete the CHARIOT Technology Questionnaire (CTQ). CTQ assessed technology experiences and attitudes, including ‘technology readiness’ via the Technology Readiness Index (TRI).

Female participants scored, on average, lower TRI (M = 27.50, SD = 6.87) compared to males (M = 29.50, SD = 6.02). Furthermore, age predicted levels of technology readiness. Exploratory factor analysis determined two factors: “Technology Competence” (Factor 1) and “Technology Trepidation” (Factor 2). Gender differences were found for “Technology Competence” (but not “Technology Trepidation”), and age predicted “Technology Trepidation” (but not “Technology Competence”).

Differences in gender, age, “Technology Competence”, and “Technology Trepidation” may highlight those who need additional study and/or support in remote-based AD dementia prevention trials.

COVID-19 has accelerated our adoption of ‘digitalisation’ in AD dementia research. A deeper understanding of the barriers to technology readiness may help inform future AD research studies.

The CHARIOT PRO SubStudy is registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02114372).