IntroductionJapan has the largest aging population with 33% of the population over the age of 60 years. The number of Japanese adults with dementia is estimated to be approximately 4.6 million, comprising nearly 15% of the older adult population. It is critical to administer cognitive assessments early in the disease state that have high reliability and low user burden to detect negative cognitive changes as early as possible; however, current preclinical AD detection methods are invasive, time-consuming, and expensive. A number of traditional and digital cognitive assessments are also available, but many of these tests are time-consuming, taxing to the user, and not widely scalable. The purpose of this study was to incorporate a digital cognitive assessment battery into a standard clinical assessment performed within a Japanese-based neuropsychology clinic to assess the diagnostic accuracy and the relationship between the digital Neurotrack Cognitive Assessment Battery (N-CAB) to traditional cognitive assessments.MethodsHealthy individuals and probable Alzheimer’s patients completed the N-CAB, as well as two traditional cognitive assessments, the Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE) and the Revised Hasegawa’s Dementia Scale (HDS-R).ResultsOur results demonstrate the Image Pairs hand-response phase of the N-CAB had the highest diagnostic accuracy with 95% sensitivity and 89% specificity to probable Alzheimer’s disease. This was closely followed by the Symbol Match assessment, with a 96% sensitivity and 74% specificity to probable Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, Symbol Match and Path Points used in combination resulted in a sensitivity of 94%, specificity of 90%; a model with all N-CAB assessments resulted in a sensitivity and specificity of 100%. All N-CAB assessments had moderate to strong and significant correlations with the MMSE and HDS-R.DiscussionTogether, this suggests that the N-CAB assessment battery may be an appropriate alternative for the clinical screening of cognition for earlier detection of Alzheimer’s disease.
Read Full Article (External Site)
Dr. David Lowemann, M.Sc, Ph.D., is a co-founder of the Institute for the Future of Human Potential, where he leads the charge in pioneering Self-Enhancement Science for the Success of Society. With a keen interest in exploring the untapped potential of the human mind, Dr. Lowemann has dedicated his career to pushing the boundaries of human capabilities and understanding.
Armed with a Master of Science degree and a Ph.D. in his field, Dr. Lowemann has consistently been at the forefront of research and innovation, delving into ways to optimize human performance, cognition, and overall well-being. His work at the Institute revolves around a profound commitment to harnessing cutting-edge science and technology to help individuals lead more fulfilling and intelligent lives.
Dr. Lowemann’s influence extends to the educational platform BetterSmarter.me, where he shares his insights, findings, and personal development strategies with a broader audience. His ongoing mission is shaping the way we perceive and leverage the vast capacities of the human mind, offering invaluable contributions to society’s overall success and collective well-being.