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Published on: September 20, 2018
Clinical Manifestations
See Ann Soo1, Jermyn Z See1, Nav Vij1
1Neurowyzr Pte Ltd, Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Background:
The Digital Brain Function Screen (DBFS) is a medical-grade digital cognitive screening tool designed to detect early stages of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and monitor cognitive decline. While DBFS has shown comparability to the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a gold-standard tool for MCI detection, its construct validity and test-retest reliability had not been formally established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the construct validity and test-retest reliability of DBFS in comparison to MoCA.
Method:
A total of 157 individuals aged 10 to 81 years were recruited from a neurology clinic, with 36 participants completing a second DBFS assessment. Both DBFS and MoCA were administered during the same session, with an average interval between the first and second DBFS administrations of 305.33 ± 354.19 days (range: 1-1090 days). Construct validity was assessed using partial Spearman's rank correlations between domain-specific DBFS and MoCA scores, controlling for covariates including age, sex, and education. Test-retest reliability was evaluated by comparing DBFS scores from the first and second administrations using partial Spearman's rank correlation, while controlling for the same covariates. Statistical analysis was performed using R (https://www.r-project.org/).
Result:
The DBFS total score was significantly correlated with the MoCA total score (p < 0.001), and strong positive correlations (p < 0.05) were observed between DBFS domains and corresponding MoCA domains, indicating good construct validity. Among the 36 participants who completed the DBFS a second time, Spearman's ρ was 0.65 (p < 0.001), demonstrating a strong monotonic relationship and high reliability over time.
Conclusion:
The study confirms that DBFS domains effectively measure the intended cognitive constructs and maintain high reliability across repeated administrations. These findings establish the validity and reliability of DBFS as a practical, scalable, and efficient tool for detecting and monitoring early cognitive impairment. Its usability makes it suitable for deployment in various healthcare settings, including screening centers and specialty clinics.
Insights
The Digital Brain Function Screen (DBFS) demonstrates strong construct validity and high test-retest reliability compared to the MoCA for detecting mild cognitive impairment. This establishes DBFS as a dependable tool for monitoring cognitive decline.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Medical Technology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- The Digital Brain Function Screen (DBFS) is a digital tool for early detection and monitoring of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).
- While comparable to the MoCA, DBFS lacked formal validation of its construct validity and test-retest reliability.
- This study aimed to establish these psychometric properties for DBFS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the construct validity of the DBFS against the MoCA.
- To assess the test-retest reliability of the DBFS.
- To confirm DBFS as a valid and reliable tool for cognitive assessment.
Main Methods:
- 157 individuals (aged 10-81) underwent DBFS and MoCA assessments.
- 36 participants completed a second DBFS assessment after a median interval of 305 days.
- Construct validity and test-retest reliability were analyzed using partial Spearman's rank correlations, controlling for age, sex, and education.
Main Results:
- DBFS total scores significantly correlated with MoCA total scores (p < 0.001).
- Strong positive correlations were found between corresponding DBFS and MoCA domains (p < 0.05), indicating good construct validity.
- Test-retest reliability for DBFS was high, with Spearman's ρ = 0.65 (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- DBFS effectively measures intended cognitive constructs and shows high reliability over time.
- The findings validate DBFS as a practical, scalable, and efficient tool for detecting and monitoring early cognitive impairment.
- DBFS is suitable for deployment in diverse healthcare settings for cognitive screening.
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