Socially Designed: A Prescription for Brain Health

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia among middle-aged and older adults (Gale, Acar & Daffner, 2018). In addition to the impact of dementia on individuals and the people close to them, the worldwide cost of dementia was estimated to be US$818 billion in 2015 and is projected to triple by 2050 (Livingston et al., 2017). Currently, AD has no cure or treatment. However, the research on prevention or the delay of onset is promising. AD has modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors; by targeting the modifiable risk factors, the disease can be prevented. Modifiable factors include nutrition, and physical and social activity, amongst others (Livingston et al., 2017; Polidori, Nelles, & Pientka, 2010). This research will address the social activity factor from a design perspective by asking how we can design for social activity in a way that promotes brain health. In particular, social support, a social function which was found to have positive effects on cognitive health, will be explored (Zuelsdorff et al., 2019). This research has utilised the actor-network theory as a theoretical framework in combination with human-centred design methodology. Methods such as literature reviews, interviews, cultural probes, and rapid prototyping helped gather data and conduct design iterations. Based on the iterative design process and the data gathered through it, a new design is proposed. The design aims to increase social support in combination with other brain health activities both in online and offline settings. Based on this research, design guidelines that could be used by designers, online and offline communities, and organisations are proposed, alongside directions for future research.