Behavioral and cognitive markers of mild cognitive impairment: diagnostic value of saccadic eye movements and Simon
Negin Chehrehnegar1,2, Vahid Nejati3,4, Mohsen Shati5
1Iranian Research Center on Aging, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Background:
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) has been considered as a prodromal stage of Alzheimer disease (AD). Subtle changes in specific aspects of executive function like inhibitory control have been found in MCI.
Aims:
We examined attentional and inhibitory control with the aim to distinguish between amnestic MCI patients and healthy controls.
Method:
Using neuropsychological, behavioral, and oculomotor function experiments, we examined executive function in 59 normal control, 49, multiple domain amnestic MCI (a-MCI) subjects, and 21 early stage AD patients using eye tracking and Simon task as measures of attentional control, to determine which saccade and behavioral tasks were sensitive enough to identify a-MCI. Saccades were investigated in gap and overlap pro-saccade and anti-saccade tasks.
Results:
Scores on the Simon task were inversely correlated with general cognitive status and can distinguish a-MCI from controls with excellent specificity (AUC = 0.65 for reaction time and 0.59 for false responses). More importantly, our results showed that saccadic gains were affected in a-MCI and were the most sensitive measures to distinguish a-MCI from normal participants AST gap task AUC = 0.7, PST gap task AUC = 0.63, AST overlap task (AUC = 0.73). Moreover, these parameters were strongly correlated with neuropsychological measures. Using tests in parallel model, improved sensitivity up to 0.97.
Conclusion:
The present results enable us to suggest eye tracking along with behavioral data as a possible sensitive tools to detect a-MCI in preclinical stage.
Insights
Eye tracking and behavioral tests show promise in detecting early signs of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (a-MCI). These sensitive tools can help identify a-MCI in its preclinical stage, distinguishing it from healthy individuals.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a prodromal stage of Alzheimer's Disease (AD).
- Subtle executive function deficits, particularly in inhibitory control, are observed in MCI.
- Amnestic MCI (a-MCI) specifically impacts memory and executive functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To differentiate amnestic MCI (a-MCI) patients from healthy controls using attentional and inhibitory control measures.
- To identify sensitive saccade and behavioral tasks for detecting a-MCI.
- To explore the utility of eye-tracking and behavioral data in preclinical a-MCI detection.
Main Methods:
- Neuropsychological, behavioral, and oculomotor experiments were conducted.
- Participants included 59 controls, 49 a-MCI subjects, and 21 early AD patients.
- Eye tracking and the Simon task measured attentional control; saccades were analyzed in gap and overlap pro-saccade and anti-saccade tasks.
Main Results:
- Simon task performance correlated with cognitive status, distinguishing a-MCI from controls (AUC 0.65 for reaction time, 0.59 for false responses).
- Saccadic gains were significantly affected in a-MCI, proving most sensitive for distinguishing a-MCI from controls (AST gap task AUC 0.7, PST gap task AUC 0.63, AST overlap task AUC 0.73).
- Combined parallel testing improved detection sensitivity to 0.97.
Conclusions:
- Eye tracking and behavioral data are sensitive tools for detecting a-MCI in the preclinical stage.
- These methods offer a promising approach for early identification of a-MCI.
- The findings support the integration of oculomotor and behavioral assessments in MCI diagnostics.
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