The Role of Big Data in Aging and Older People’s Health Research: A Systematic Review and Ecological Framework

Xinyue Zhang, Xiaolu Gao, Danxian Wu, Zening Xu and Hongjie Wang
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Xinyue Zhang: Key Laboratory of Regional Sustainable Development Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Xiaolu Gao: Key Laboratory of Regional Sustainable Development Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Danxian Wu: Key Laboratory of Regional Sustainable Development Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Zening Xu: China Institute for Urban Governance, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai 200030, China
Hongjie Wang: Key Laboratory of Regional Sustainable Development Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 21, 1-19

Abstract: Big data has been prominent in studying aging and older people’s health. It has promoted modeling and analyses in biological and geriatric research (like cellular senescence), developed health management platforms, and supported decision-making in public healthcare and social security. However, current studies are still limited within a single subject, rather than flourished as interdisciplinary research in the context of big data. The research perspectives have not changed, nor has big data brought itself out of the role as a modeling tool. When embedding big data as a data product, analysis tool, and resolution service into different spatial, temporal, and organizational scales of aging processes, it would present as a connection, integration, and interaction simultaneously in conducting interdisciplinary research. Therefore, this paper attempts to propose an ecological framework for big data based on aging and older people’s health research. Following the scoping process of PRISMA, 35 studies were reviewed to validate our ecological framework. Although restricted by issues like digital divides and privacy security, we encourage researchers to capture various elements and their interactions in the human-environment system from a macro and dynamic perspective rather than simply pursuing accuracy.

Keywords: aging; big data; older people’s health; ecological framework; systematic review (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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