Remote Digital Health Intervention to Improve Balance and Reduce Fall Risk

The goal of this project is to further develop and evaluate a computerized cognitive-training program designed to extend older adults' functional independence and reduce accidental falls (i.e., reduce factors that contribute to fall risk; including cognitive abilities/executive functions). This intervention may benefit a large population of vulnerable older adults with elevated fall risk and lack of long-term viable treatment options.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Participants who are 65 years of age or older. 2. Participants must be US residents. 3. Participant with at least one self-reported fall within the last 1 year or difficulty walking one half a mile or difficulty climbing one flight of stairs. 4. Participants who are fluent English speakers from the age of 12, per self-report, to ensure reasonable neuropsychological results on key assessments. 5. Participant must have adequate sensorimotor capacity to perform the program, including visual capacity adequate to read from a computer screen at a normal viewing distance, auditory capacity adequate to understand normal speech, and motor capacity adequate to control a computer mouse or a tablet. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Participants had joint replacement surgery or significant join/leg injury less than one year prior to the screening visit. 2. Participants have a joint replacement surgery scheduled within the next 6 months. 3. Participants use a walker or wheelchair on a regular basis. 4. Participants have a diagnosis of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), labyrinthitis or suffers migraines that result in chronic vertigo. 5. Participants self-reports vision or hearing difficulties that would interfere with the ability to complete the study tasks. 6. Participants with untreated psychiatric conditions, including substance abuse/dependence disorders, recent hospitalization, ongoing chemotherapy or other cancer treatment. 7. Participants with medical illnesses, injuries or conditions predisposing to imminent functional and/or cognitive decline (e.g. multiple sclerosis, stroke, traumatic brain injury, dementia, etc.) 8. Participants enrolled in a concurrent clinical trial involving an intervention targeting physical functioning to prevent falls; investigational pharmaceutical; nutraceutical; medical device; or behavioral treatment that could affect the outcome of this study. However, participation in standard treatments (e.g., occupational therapy) or use of prescribed medications (e.g., anti-depressants) is allowable. 9. Participants using computer-based cognitive training programs or has used it within a month of the consent date. 10. Participants who answered 'yes' to questions 4 (Active Suicidal Ideation with Intent) or 5 (Active Suicidal Ideation with Specific Plan and Intent) on the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) or 'yes' to any of the suicide-related behaviors (actual attempt, interrupted attempt, aborted attempt, preparatory act or behavior) on the C-SSRS "Suicidal Behavior" if the ideation or behavior occurred within 2 months from Participant's date of consent.