Inclusive Co-Design of Augmented Reality Digital Helpers for Autistic Adolescents and Young Adults: A Study on Just-In-Time Augmented Reality Assistance.

As the global population continues to age rapidly, the associated rise in age-related cognitive decline presents an urgent challenge for health care systems worldwide. The number of people aged 65 years and older is expected to rise from an estimated 727 million in 2020 to more than double by 2050, reaching over 1.5 billion, according to the World Health Organization. In Spain, this global trend is mirrored by a rapidly aging population. Recent data from the Instituto Nacional de Estadística and the Ministry of Health indicate an accelerated aging trend, posing substantial challenges for healthcare services. The aging index reached 142.3% in 2024, indicating 142 individuals aged 65 years or older for every 100 under the age of 16. By 2050, projections estimate that 30.4% of the population will be over 65 years, underscoring the critical need for effective age-related interventions. The centenarian population is also projected to keep rising, from 14,287 currently to 226,932 by 2072, further emphasizing the need for effective interventions to address age-related conditions. This demographic shift is accompanied by a growing prevalence of cognitive decline, with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) alone expected to affect 139 million people globally by 2050. AD currently affects ∼5% of individuals over 65 years in Spain, with around 800,000 diagnosed cases. This number is anticipated to double in the coming decades, potentially affecting over 41 out of every 1,000 people by 2050. Cognitive impairments, including memory loss, diminished attention, and executive dysfunction, significantly impact the quality of life for affected individuals and impose a heavy burden on caregivers and health care systems.