In a context of an unprecedented demographic shift, along with the desire and need for older adults to age-in-place (that is, an individual living in the residence of their choice, for as long as they are able, throughout ageing), it is crucial the establishment of innovative strategies that work to bolster health promotion and strategies. In fact, the increase in life expectancy of a population is usually a hallmark of a country’s success in health and sanitary care, but it is meaningless if not accompanied by the proper quality of life, a construct defined as general wellbeing (comprising clinical, physical and mental health aspects), in that the ability to perform daily life activities is maintained. Because digital technology is increasingly present in everyday tasks, digital literacy, and use of digital platforms, including in healthcare, monitoring, and data analysis, is unavoidable and goes “hand in hand” with health, health literacy, and availability, access and use of digital health services. The intersection of these is a goal in the Agenda 2030, and here at the core of the “Ageing in the Digital Era” research line.

The scientific approach proposed for this theme is multimodal. We are committed to (i) continue to contribute to understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in aging-related processes (cellular to populations), its determinants (e.g., stress, education, nutrition, exercise), (ii) monitoring throughout life (or in physiological or pathological situations), and (iii) how digital means, accessibility and/or interventions, can improve the quality of life, but also the provision of health care. These different levels of approaches are in line with the biomedical research activities in the School of Medicine/ICVS health cluster, and will be conducted in a population-based approach. Depending on specific study goals, longitudinal or cross-sectional approaches will be applied, and multiple measures collected that can range from MRI data to biological samples, to neuropsychological, clinical and socio-demographic data. Participants will be recruited from different contexts, and/or specific inclusion/exclusion criteria, depending on the specific study question. Intervention studies, or user-center and feasibility studies, may be designed whenever appropriate.