Tech-based solutions for health challenges in aging: 25 years of development trends and prospects.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: As the global population ages, we witness a broad scientific and technological revolution tailored to meet the health challenges of older adults. Over the past 25 years, technological innovations, ranging from advanced medical devices to user-friendly mobile applications, are transforming the way we address these challenges, offering new avenues to enhance the quality of life and well-being of the aging demographic. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the development trends in technology for managing and caring for elderly health over the past 25 years, and to project future development prospects. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of literatures related to Tech-based solutions for health challenges in aging, published up to March 18, 2024. The search was performed using the Web of Science Core Collection, covering a span from 1999 to 2024. Our search strategy was designed to capture a broad spectrum of terms associated with aging, health challenges specific to the elderly, and technological interventions. RESULTS: A total of 1,133 publications were found in WoSCC. The publication trend over these 25 years showed a gradual but fluctuating increase. The United States was the most productive country, and participated in international collaboration most frequently. The predominant keywords identified through this analysis include "dementia", "telemedicine", "older-adults", "telehealth", "care". The Keywords with citation bursts from "telemedicine" to "digital health". CONCLUSIONS: The scientific and technological revolution has significantly improved elderly health management, particularly in chronic disease monitoring, mobility, and social connectivity. The momentum for innovation continues to build, with future research likely to focus on predictive analytics and personalized healthcare solutions, further enhancing elderly independence and quality of life.