Human Factors Studies: Key Factors To Consider When Including Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment

By Jessica Sanford, Ph.D. Senior Human Factors Engineer, Battelle

As the US population ages and the prevalence of cognitive decline increases, new research into cognitive and memory-related drug and combination device development is on the rise. This surge brings a heightened need for human factors testing that includes target users, potentially requiring study participants with cognitive impairments to determine if they can self-administer treatments.

In this article, we draw on our direct experience with research participants who have mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to early Alzheimer's, supplemented by academic literature on dementia and cognitive decline. While our insights stem from a study involving a combination product for Alzheimer's patients, the considerations we discuss are applicable to including MCI participants in studies for treatments of Alzheimer's, dementia, or related conditions.

Our aim is to highlight key aspects of conducting research with this user group. By sharing our knowledge, we hope to aid in properly structuring studies and alerting others to potential challenges when working with older adults with MCI from early Alzheimer's or similar conditions.