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Updated: May 10, 2025
Assessment of Age-related Changes in Cognitive Functions Using EmoCogMeter, a Novel Tablet-computer Based Approach
Published on: February 14, 2014
Integrating a novel tablet-based digital neurocognitive assessment tool in brain metastases patients
Eyub Y Akdemir1, Selin Gurdikyan1, Thailin Companioni Reyes1
1Department of Radiation Oncology, Miami Cancer Institute, Baptist Health South Florida, Miami, FL, 33176, USA.
Purpose:
Patients with brain metastasis frequently exhibit baseline neurocognitive decline (NCD), which can be further exacerbated by CNS-directed interventions. Despite efforts to measure and preserve neurocognitive function (NCF), the practicality of traditional methods remains a concern. As a contemporary alternative, this study evaluates the feasibility and patient feedback of a novel digital neurocognitive assessment (NCA) tool.
Methods:
Adult patients undergoing stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), fractionated SRS (FSRS), or whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) from December 2021 to March 2024 were enrolled onto a prospective registry (NCT05504681), which formed the basis for this work. The multi-dimensional, multi-language digital NCA battery was administered at baseline and follow-up, and a feedback survey was collected to assess the tool's usability and patient satisfaction.
Results:
A "high risk" cohort of 74 patients with brain metastases and a "low risk" cohort of 14 patients with small benign extra-axial tumors were evaluated. The high risk cohort had higher rates of NCD compared to the low risk cohort (36.5% vs. 7.1%, p = 0.032); driven by patients treated with WBRT vs. SRS/FSRS (73.3% vs. 27.1%, p = 0.001). Notably, 50.0% completed the NCAs in their native language (non-English). Patient feedback indicated that 94% found the NCAs easy to understand, 96% found it easy to use, and 74% found it relevant to their care.
Conclusion:
This multi-dimensional, multi-language tablet-based NCA tool demonstrated feasibility and patient acceptance in a diverse patient population as well as the ability to discriminate NCD among patients treated with SRS/FSRS vs. WBRT. This approach shows promise for broader implementation, warranting further validation to confirm its efficacy.
