Smartwatch reminders can support time-based prospective memory in patients with Korsakoff’s syndrome

Prospective memory (PM) is the ability to remember to perform an intended task. PM is often impaired in individuals with Korsakoff’s syndrome (KS), a neuropsychiatric disorder caused by severe thiamine deficiency resulting from malnutrition, typically as a consequence of structural alcohol abuse. This study aimed to investigate whether smartwatch reminders were as effective as verbal in-person reminders in prompting individuals to perform time-based PM tasks. Twelve individuals with KS, residing in a long-term care facility, were asked to complete PM tasks that were already part of their daily routine. We analysed each participant’s result individually and then performed a group case study analysis where we combined the p-values using Fisher’s method to evaluate the overall significance across participants, which formed the basis of our conclusion. The results showed that smartwatches were as effective as verbal reminders to enhance PM performance. Overall cognitive functioning negatively influences timeliness of PM performance after a smartwatch reminder. Thus, for individuals with lower cognitive functioning, reminders should be delivered closer to the intended action time to improve effectiveness. Participants generally reported a pleasant experience with the smartwatch reminders, reinforcing its potential as a valuable external memory aid for increasing autonomy in individuals with KS.