Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online 2026-4
The digital divide in dementia research recruitment: A scoping review of internet-based strategies targeting rural-dwelling older adults with cognitive concerns
Internet-based recruitment holds promise for Alzheimer's disease (AD) research, but its effectiveness for engaging rural older adults with cognitive concerns remains unclear. This review synthesized existing literature on internet-based recruitment for AD research targeting rural-dwelling older adults. After searching PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Web of Science, 670 non-duplicate records were screened, and only one eligible study was identified. The top two reasons for exclusion were internet-based recruitment was not used or rural recruitment outcomes were not measured. Despite the expansion of digital recruitment in AD research, rural populations remain overlooked, a critical gap given their disproportionate barriers to research participation.
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