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A Machine Learning Approach to Design an Efficient Selective Screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published on: January 11, 2020
Validity of a brief computerized cognitive screening test in dementia.
Dustin Hammers1, Elizabeth Spurgeon, Kelly Ryan
1Department of Neurology, Center for Alzheimer's Care, Imaging, and Research, University of Utah, UT 84108, USA. dustin.hammers@hsc.utah.edu
Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology
|June 13, 2012
Summary
The CogState computerized test battery shows clinical validity for detecting established dementias but struggles to differentiate between dementia types or reliably identify mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Further validation is needed for these distinctions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Preliminary evidence supports CogState's validity in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer disease (AD).
- Definitive validation across diverse dementia disorders is needed.
- Comparison with conventional neuropsychological methods is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate the CogState computerized cognitive test battery.
- To assess its utility in differentiating various dementia-related disorders.
- To compare its performance against traditional neuropsychological tests.
Main Methods:
- Recruited participants with dementia (AD, frontotemporal dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies), MCI, and healthy controls.
- Administered a battery of neuropsychological and CogState computerized tests.
- Assessed processing speed, attention, working memory, and learning.
Main Results:
- Dementia groups scored significantly lower on both CogState and standard tests (P < .05).
- One CogState test differentiated controls from MCI, but differentiation among dementias was minimal.
- Correlations between conventional and computerized tests were modest.
Conclusions:
- The CogState battery is clinically valid for identifying established dementias.
- It is not effective in differentiating between various dementia subtypes.
- Its ability to identify MCI from controls is weaker than its ability to identify specific dementias.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Dementia
Dementia is a collective term for cognitive disorders primarily affecting memory, thinking, and reasoning. It is not a specific disease but a syndrome, with Alzheimer's disease being the most common cause, accounting for approximately 60-80% of cases. Other types include vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. Dementia affects millions worldwide, particularly older adults, though it is not a normal part of aging.
The progression of dementia is generally gradual.
The progression of dementia is generally gradual.
01:22Dementia l: Introduction
Dementia is an acquired, progressive syndrome characterized by a decline in multiple cognitive domains severe enough to impair daily functioning and reduce independence. Although memory loss is a central feature, the diagnosis requires additional deficits involving language, executive function, visuospatial skills, judgment, calculation, or abstract reasoning. These cognitive impairments reflect underlying neurodegenerative or vascular processes that gradually disrupt neuronal networks...