Technology-based instrumental activities of daily living in persons with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders

INTRODUCTION: Instrumental activities of daily living (iADLs) increasingly involve technology (e.g., making payments online, texting). The current study examined the applicability and diagnostic accuracy of technology-based iADLs in those evaluated for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). METHODS: A total of 264 care partners of persons undergoing comprehensive interdisciplinary evaluations completed the Functional Activities Questionnaire and 11 technology-based iADL items. RESULTS: Technology-based iADLs applied to more than 80% of patients. Average dependence on technology-based items was overall less than for traditional iADLs. The addition of technology-based items to traditional iADL items slightly improved the ability to identify individuals with dementia. When considered separately, technology-based iADL items demonstrated comparable ability to distinguish between diagnostic stages. DISCUSSION: Technology use is common in older adults with ADRD for a range of daily activities. Accounting for technology use increases the content validity of existing iADL measures for the modern context and yields comparable diagnostic accuracy. Highlights: Technology use is often integral to daily activity performance for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Daily technologies, such as smartphones, were used frequently by those with ADRD. Many individuals were less dependent on technology activities than traditional activities. Adding technology questions slightly increased diagnostic accuracy for detecting dementia.