Using digital assessment technology to detect neuropsychological problems in primary care settings.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Gerontology
• Primary Care Medicine

Background:

• Screening for neurocognitive impairment and psychological distress is crucial in ambulatory care settings.
• The Core Cognitive Evaluation™ (CCE) is a novel iPad-administered tool designed for rapid assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the CCE in identifying neurocognitive impairment and psychological distress in a primary care setting.
• To determine the correlation between patient-reported concerns and CCE performance.

Main Methods:

• 199 ambulatory patients were screened using the CCE, which includes memory recall, clock drawing, lifestyle/health questions, and psychological distress queries.
• The CCE assesses 44 digital clock variables and provides summary indices.

Main Results:

• 41% of patients reported memory concerns, and 31% reported psychological distress.
• Patients with memory concerns scored lower on memory and clock drawing indices (p < 0.050).
• Patients with diabetes or atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) also showed lower scores on specific CCE measures (p < 0.035).

Conclusions:

• The CCE is a reliable and sensitive tool for detecting cognitive decline, mood symptoms, and cardiovascular risks in outpatient settings.
• Its iPad administration ensures consistent scoring and efficient deployment in primary care.
• The CCE aids in identifying patients needing further neurocognitive and psychological assessment.