Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technology addresses a documented gap in dementia care by preserving verbal and non-verbal expression as cognitive decline progresses. This research maps existing AAC applications to identify barriers and opportunities for broader clinical implementation, directly supporting quality of life and caregiver outcomes in neurodegenerative disease.
Key Points
- AAC technology maintains communication capacity despite cognitive decline progression
- Clinical implementation gap persists despite established efficacy in dementia populations
- Systematic mapping identifies intervention design barriers and adoption barriers
Longevity Analysis
The decline of communication ability represents one of the most consequential losses in dementia progression, affecting not only the individual's autonomy and emotional resilience but also caregiver burden and quality of remaining years. AAC technology that preserves the ability to express needs, preferences, and identity directly supports both neurological preservation efforts and the psychological continuity that shapes long-term health outcomes. Identifying and removing implementation barriers—whether technical, educational, or systemic—is a prerequisite for scaling interventions that maintain functional capacity in populations where traditional pharmaceutical approaches have shown limited efficacy.
Original published by SAGE Research on Aging, by Maríateresa H. Muñoz, Joana Okine, Ellen L. Brown, Nicole Ruggiano1Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences, 5450Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA2School of Social Work, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA3Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.