January 31, 2026
A study led by NIA IMPACT Faculty Scholar Rebecca K.F. Lassell, PhD, identifies the activity-tracker features that matter most to older Black adults with memory challenges and their care partners—insights that could inform tracker selection in aging and Alzheimer’s disease research.
Published in Innovation in Aging, the paper addresses a gap in gerontology research by focusing on Black older adults—who are disproportionately affected by Alzheimer’s disease yet often underrepresented in technology-focused studies.
Participants and care partners tried four commercially available devices, ranked them, and shared feedback in focus groups and interviews. The Apple Watch SE rated highest overall for emergency SOS, screen readability, and on-device progress viewing. Care partners prioritized caregiving supports such as GPS tracking, longer battery life, and remote monitoring.
Overall, the findings reinforce that user-centered device selection may improve wear time, adherence, and trust in clinical trials.
Access the full journal article, “Which activity tracker features matter to you? Older Black participants living with memory challenges and care partner preferences,” in Innovation in Aging.