Can a novel computerized cognitive screening test provide additional information for early detection of Alzheimer's disease?

Ioannis Tarnanas; Magda Tsolaki; Tobias Nef; René M Müri; Urs P Mosimann

doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2014.01.002

Can a novel computerized cognitive screening test provide additional information for early detection of Alzheimer's disease?

Alzheimers Dement. 2014 Nov;10(6):790-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2014.01.002. Epub 2014 Mar 18.

Authors

Ioannis Tarnanas¹, Magda Tsolaki², Tobias Nef³, René M Müri⁴, Urs P Mosimann⁵

Affiliations

¹ Gerontechnology and Rehabilitation Group, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Clinical & Biological Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany. Electronic address: ioannis.tarnanas@artorg.unibe.ch.
² 3rd Department of Neurology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
³ Gerontechnology and Rehabilitation Group, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
⁴ Gerontechnology and Rehabilitation Group, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Perception and Eye Movement Laboratory, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
⁵ Gerontechnology and Rehabilitation Group, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.

PMID: 24656838
DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2014.01.002

Abstract

Background: Virtual reality testing of everyday activities is a novel type of computerized assessment that measures cognitive, executive, and motor performance as a screening tool for early dementia. This study used a virtual reality day-out task (VR-DOT) environment to evaluate its predictive value in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Methods: One hundred thirty-four patients with MCI were selected and compared with 75 healthy control subjects. Participants received an initial assessment that included VR-DOT, a neuropsychological evaluation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, and event-related potentials (ERPs). After 12 months, participants were assessed again with MRI, ERP, VR-DOT, and neuropsychological tests.

Results: At the end of the study, we differentiated two subgroups of patients with MCI according to their clinical evolution from baseline to follow-up: 56 MCI progressors and 78 MCI nonprogressors. VR-DOT performance profiles correlated strongly with existing predictive biomarkers, especially the ERP and MRI biomarkers of cortical thickness.

Conclusions: Compared with ERP, MRI, or neuropsychological tests alone, the VR-DOT could provide additional predictive information in a low-cost, computerized, and noninvasive way.

Keywords: Computerized cognitive assessment; Computerized testing; Dementia; Early detection; Psychometrics.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Activities of Daily Living
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Alzheimer Disease / complications*
Alzheimer Disease / diagnosis
Alzheimer Disease / psychology
Analysis of Variance
Cognition / physiology*
Cognition Disorders / diagnosis*
Cognition Disorders / etiology*
Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted*
Electroencephalography
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Neuropsychological Tests*
User-Computer Interface