SAGE Lab Research Featured: Smartphone-Based Program Helps Slow Cognitive Decline in Older Adults

A pioneering study led by Dr. Junhyoung "Paul" Kim has been featured in Texas A&M Stories, revealing how a multi-domain smartphone application can effectively slow cognitive decline in assisted living residents. To explore the issue, researchers Junhyoung “Paul” Kim and Marcia Ory from the Texas A&M University School of Public Health, Yongseop Kim from the University of Utah, and two representatives from Silvia Health Inc. pilot-tested the Silvia Program with residents at an assisted living facility in Indiana.

The study, published in Public Health and Practice, evaluated the "Silvia Program," a free cognitive health care lifestyle app that offers personalized coaching, cognitive exercises, and a voice analysis tool for dementia detection. Dr. Kim’s team found that participants in the intervention group showed significant improvements in cognitive functioning, including language and delayed recall, after the 12-week program. By integrating nutrition, activity, and sleep monitoring with AI-generated conversations, this mobile intervention provides a scalable and accessible solution for older adults experiencing mild cognitive decline.

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Photo Credit: Getty Images / Texas A&M Stories

Published on March 25, 2025 | By Ann Kellett, Texas A&M University School of Public Health