The open-source digital cognitive assessment established in this study showed good usability by PwPD, and the observed overlap between individual DiCo features and MoCA and FAB scores may inform future reduced task sets for research or selected clinical settings.
Abstract
Cognitive impairment is an important constraint for PwPD with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD). Digital assessments potentially provide more accessible measurements and obtain a richer set of data than traditional paper–pencil-based instruments. Open-source generation can support the availability of comparable assessments in different cohorts. A digital, tablet-based cognitive assessment (DiCo) comprising 13 distinct tests was implemented as an open-source tool, expanding on available frameworks. Commonly used tests were selected to cover response inhibition, cognitive flexibility, attention, and working memory. After extensive usability testing, the DiCo was applied in participants without overt cognitive impairment. 97 participants (43% women) completed the entire DiCo. Clustering of DiCo feature correlations and conditional dependencies indicated a predominantly mutual organization of cognitive performance in PwPD. Exploratory factor analysis identified five interrelated latent factors. Most factors were derived from individual tests and correlated moderately with traditional neuropsychological tests and questionnaires. Machine learning identified a test of working memory (N-back) as the most predictive feature for the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Latent profile analysis revealed four cognitive subgroups, mainly reflecting severity. The open-source digital cognitive assessment established in this study showed good usability by PwPD. The observed overlap between individual DiCo features and MoCA and FAB scores may inform future reduced task sets for research or selected clinical settings.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with motor symptoms and cognitive changes. Its increasing global disease burden highlights the need for scalable approaches to support remote assessment and digital biomarker discovery. Digital health platforms offer scalable opportunities to assess motor and cognitive performance metrics relevant to PD diagnosis remotely, minimizing logistical and geographic barriers. We introduce RobustPDx, a dataset comprising structured motor and cognitive tasks performed remotely via an accessible web-based assessment completed by 261 participants, including 73 individuals with self-reported PD, 33 individuals reporting suspected PD, and 155 non-PD controls, each completing standardized tasks remotely using their own computer. The dataset includes raw task-level interaction data and a feature-engineered analytic dataset containing 79 derived features spanning five task categories related to fine motor control and working memory. Each record in the resulting dataset is paired with demographic data, device type, and handedness annotations. Notably, including device type and handedness metadata enables analyses along traditionally underexplored but important axes of variation in remote consumer digital health. Together, these data support the development and benchmarking of AI-driven models for remote PD detection and robust digital biomarker discovery.
Zerin Nasrin Tumpa, Md Rahat Shahriar Zawad, L. Sollis et al.· Scientific Data· 0 citations
ABSTRACT Objective To assess the utility, accessibility, and equivalence to supervised scales of online cognitive assessment in older individuals with cognitive impairment. Methods Patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD, n = 31), idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH, n = 26), and traumatic brain injury (TBI, n = 23) completed online cognitive tasks (Cognitron). We evaluated cognition relative to a large normative dataset (N ≈ 400,000), adjusting for device and demographics which can affect performance. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to derive domain‐specific and total composite scores. We compared clinical groups and correlated performance with standard assessments. Results Uptake was ~70%. PCA identified components across memory, processing speed, language, and executive functions. AD showed memory and language impairments compared with the norms and other groups. iNPH had greater executive and processing speed deficits, consistent with a subcortical impairment profile. TBI showed milder deficits in memory, working memory, and language. Cognitron total composite was associated with standard supervised tests (ADAS‐Cog: β = −0.76, p < 0.001 and ACE‐III: β = 0.69, p < 0.001). In iNPH, Cognitron composite predicted walking speed (estimate = 1.10, p < 0.001), a core clinical feature of the disease which is difficult to evaluate remotely. We selected five tasks with high completion rates, discriminability between conditions, and broad cognitive coverage. The derived short composite showed very high accuracy in separating AD (AUC = 0.94) and iNPH (AUC = 0.90) from age‐matched norms; performance was weaker for TBI (AUC = 0.66). Interpretation Online assessment in older clinical populations is feasible and sensitive to subtle disease‐specific cognitive deficits. A demographically adjusted, 15‐min battery offers a scalable adjunct to standard testing, with potential to reduce burden on patients and healthcare systems.
M. Del Giovane, V. Giunchiglia, Michael C B David et al.· Annals of Clinical and Trans...· 0 citations
ABSTRACT Purpose Acquired brain injuries (ABI) frequently lead to cognitive impairments, which can be challenging to detect and persist for years, negatively impacting patient outcomes. Timely and specific screening is crucial for proper management. Cog-First is a tablet-based self-assessment of executive functions, memory, and attention lasting approximately 20 min. This study aimed to develop the English version of Cog-First and evaluate its feasibility. Materials and methods A two-phase study was conducted. Phase 1 involved a rigorous translation and cultural adaptation process, following established guidelines. Phase 2 consisted of an exploratory comparison between MoCA and Cog-First scores in individuals with ABI. Results The English version of Cog-First was developed. Practitioners highly rated the relevance and applicability. Strong agreement (90%) was observed for memory, attention and inhibition sub-tests. About 90% of ABI participants expressed a high level of satisfaction. Exploratory analyses showed an association between MoCA and Cog-First scores (p = 0.037, r = .46). Conclusion This study successfully translated and culturally adapted Cog-First into English and demonstrated its feasibility and acceptability in English-speaking individuals with ABI. While further research is required to explore its psychometric properties, normative values and clinical utility comprehensively, Cog-First might enhance the detection of subtle cognitive deficits and inform targeted rehabilitation strategies.
Camille Heslot, A. Schnitzler, Franck Tarpin-Bernard et al.· Brain Injury· 0 citations
Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine the cognitive profile of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). Methods and Materials: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 94 patients with MS recruited from Ibn Sina Hospital in Tehran, selected through convenience sampling. Inclusion criteria comprised a neurologist-confirmed MS diagnosis, age between 20 and 50, disease duration of at least five years, and an EDSS score of ≤5. All participants had normal intelligence scores based on the Raven-2 Progressive Matrices (IQ 90–110). After completing the Motor Screening Task (MOT) to ensure physical and technical capability, participants were assessed using CANTAB subtests including Reaction Time (RTI), Rapid Visual Processing (RVP), Paired-Associate Learning (PAL), Spatial Working Memory (SWM), and Emotion Recognition Task (ERT). Statistical analysis involved one-sample t-tests with bootstrapping (5,000 samples) and a 95% confidence level. Results from the healthy population were extracted from a prior normative study. Findings: Statistically significant differences were found between MS patients and healthy individuals in all cognitive domains assessed except within and double errors in spatial working memory and the recognition of sadness, happiness, and surprise. MS patients exhibited higher motor screening error and latency scores (p = .007, p = .001), greater deficits in rapid visual processing (p < .001), prolonged reaction and movement times in both simple and choice tasks (p < .001), and poorer performance on paired-associate learning measures including total errors and trials (p < .001). Spatial working memory impairments were significant across several dimensions (p ≤ .005), and emotion recognition was significantly reduced for fear, anger, disgust, and overall accuracy (p ≤ .002). Conclusion: The CANTAB test effectively distinguishes cognitive deficits in MS patients across multiple domains and can be used as a reliable neuropsychological tool for early detection and targeted cognitive rehabilitation planning in clinical settings.
Javad Nezhadi, Alireza Moradi, M. Sadeghi et al.· The Iranian Journal of Neuro...· 0 citations
BACKGROUND
Currently, no single biomarker can reliably identify preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD), particularly at or before the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) stage. Given the heterogeneity of MCI, integrative approaches are needed to improve early risk stratification.
OBJECTIVES
(i) To derive robust latent cognitive components from a multicenter, clinically defined MCI cohort using principal component analysis (PCA); (ii) to investigate the associations between these components and plasma p-tau217 and p-tau181 levels.
METHODS
Data from 742 MCI participants in the AI-Mind cohort were analyzed. Cognitive domains were derived using PCA with varimax rotation and tested for associations with plasma p-tau biomarkers using site-specific linear regressions, adjusted for age, sex, and education.
RESULTS
A reproducible four-component cognitive structure emerged (memory, executive/processing speed, verbal fluency, visuospatial ability), with memory as the most p-tau-sensitive domain. The p-tau217 measure showed stronger associations with memory than p-tau181, though effects varied by site.
CONCLUSION
The findings indicate that a robust four-factor cognitive structure can be identified in clinically defined MCI cohorts without prior biological selection. The association between latent memory factors and plasma p-tau217, observed primarily in cohorts with higher biomarker burden or clearer amnestic profiles, highlights the potential for blood-based biomarkers to refine risk assessment in routine clinical practice.
Ana S. Perez, Hugo L. Hammer, V. Andersson et al.· GeroScience· 0 citations
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