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Can a novel computerized cognitive screening test provide additional information for early detection of Alzheimer's disease?
Author(s) -
Tarnanas Ioannis,
Tsolaki Magda,
Nef Tobias,
M. Müri René,
Mosimann Urs P.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1016/j.jalz.2014.01.002
Subject(s) - neuropsychology , dementia , cognition , neuropsychological assessment , magnetic resonance imaging , neuropsychological testing , psychology , predictive value , medicine , virtual reality , cognitive test , disease , cognitive impairment , physical medicine and rehabilitation , audiology , radiology , psychiatry , computer science , artificial intelligence
Background Virtual reality testing of everyday activities is a novel type of computerized assessment that measures cognitive, executive, and motor performance as a screening tool for early dementia. This study used a virtual reality day‐out task (VR‐DOT) environment to evaluate its predictive value in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods One hundred thirty‐four patients with MCI were selected and compared with 75 healthy control subjects. Participants received an initial assessment that included VR‐DOT, a neuropsychological evaluation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, and event‐related potentials (ERPs). After 12 months, participants were assessed again with MRI, ERP, VR‐DOT, and neuropsychological tests. Results At the end of the study, we differentiated two subgroups of patients with MCI according to their clinical evolution from baseline to follow‐up: 56 MCI progressors and 78 MCI nonprogressors. VR‐DOT performance profiles correlated strongly with existing predictive biomarkers, especially the ERP and MRI biomarkers of cortical thickness. Conclusions Compared with ERP, MRI, or neuropsychological tests alone, the VR‐DOT could provide additional predictive information in a low‐cost, computerized, and noninvasive way.