[Introduction] Brain training apps have been shown to help maintain cognitive function in older adults. With their increasing availability on smartphones, this study aimed to assess whether older adults can independently operate them and identify factors influencing any opertional difficulties.
[Methods] Participants received instructions via verbal explanations and a manual before attempting independent use. Assistance required for successful operation was evaluated using a five-point checklist, assessing initiation, progression, comprehension, execution, and response accuracy. Factors such as age, gender, education, cognitive function, depression, self-efficacy, and smartphone usage (time spent, number of apps, messaging frequency, and functions used) were analyzed for correlations with checklist scores.
This study was conducted with approval from the Ethics Committee of Hyogo Medical University, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants.
[Results] The study involved 40 participants (15 male, 25 female, mean age 72.65 ± 5.23 years), using either CogEvo Pro (Total Brain Care Co. Ltd.; web-based app with 5 task types. 21 participants used) or Atama no Dojo (Hyogo Medical University; locally installed app with 8 task types. 19 participants used). All participants mastered the app operation within 10 minutes, with no significant differences in checklist scores between the two apps.
Analysis revealed significant correlations between operational difficulty and age (r = .50, p = .00) and cognitive function (MMSE: r = −.44, p = .00; TMT-B: r = .41, p = .00). No significant correlations were found with gender, education, self-efficacy, depression, or smartphone usage.
[Discussion] These findings suggest cognitive function is the primary factor influencing ease of use. Prior smartphone experience and other demographic factors’ impact appears relatively minor.