Cognitive testings on a touch-screen tablet for older adults: a feasibility study

Abstract

Purpose Digital tools are currently being developed to help with the diagnosis of neurocognitive disorder (NCD) (Chan 2021). Their use in primary care as screening tools could optimize referral to specialized teams. We aimed to develop a simple, easy-to-use neurocognitive screening tool on a touchscreen tablet to distinguish between people with major NCD, those with mild NCD and those with no NCD. Method We implemented self-questionnaires and tasks for touch-screen tablets self-questionnaires inspired from conventional cognitive tools relevant to screen cognitive impairment.  They comprised simple cognitive tasks like immediate and delayed recall of 3 words, temporal orientation questions, categorizations. Response times for tasks were also recorded. The screens have been designed to be used by the participant alone or with the help of a supervisor. Finally, we composed a battery of self-questionnaires and cognitive tasks that can be completed in 10-15 minutes. This battery was offered 77 consecutive patients from a memory clinic and 28 volunteers without cognitive complaints recruited from a citizens' association. Cognitive diagnoses were based on DSM-5 criteria. Results and Discussion Among the 105 participants, there were 79 women (75%) and 26 men (25%) and aged 79.9 +/- 7.5 years; 40 were free from NCD, 40 had a major NCD and 25 a mild NCD.  All the participants realized the full battery of tests on tablets. Success for each task and response times are shown in Table 1. Four variables were found to be significantly different according to cognitive diagnosis and will be combined in a simplified battery. The feasibility of these tablet-based tests in older adults is excellent, and initial results show promising aspects for the design of a brief tablet-based cognitive screening tool.