Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technologies remain underutilized in dementia care despite evidence supporting their effectiveness in preserving communicative function. The gap between demonstrated efficacy and clinical adoption reflects both implementation barriers and insufficient clinician awareness of available tools.
Key Points
- AAC technology supports communication preservation in dementia despite clinical underuse.
- Implementation barriers and clinician knowledge gaps limit adoption rates.
- Systematic mapping identifies tools for maintaining cognitive and social engagement.
Longevity Analysis
The ability to maintain meaningful communication directly influences quality of life, cognitive engagement, and emotional resilience in advanced age. When communicative capacity deteriorates without intervention, the cascade includes accelerated cognitive decline, increased social isolation, and higher rates of behavioral dysregulation—all of which compress healthspan. Identifying and implementing evidence-supported communication technologies addresses a modifiable determinant of neurological decline and psychological well-being that operates independently of pharmaceutical intervention. The clinical gap here is not one of efficacy but of integration: technology exists to preserve function, yet organizational and educational barriers prevent deployment at the point of care where it matters most.
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.