Mixed Reality Prototype of Multimodal Screening for Early Detection of Cognitive Impairments in Elderly: Protocol Development and Usability Study (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND Early diagnosis of cognitive impairments is an important step in the adequate management of dementia. The project “Smart Cognition & Behavior Screening powered by Augmented Reality” (SCOBES AR) aims to develop a multimodal screening tool (MST) for early detection of cognitive impairments using augmented and virtual reality. In the first project phase validated assessments were selected, combined in MST and tested in 174 healthy elderly adults. In the present project phase, the developed MST will be partly enhanced by mixed reality (MR), a combination of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). This MR-enhanced prototype of screening tool (MR-MST) will be tested and compared to the previously developed MST. In addition, the usability of this enhanced prototype will be examined. OBJECTIVE To establish a protocol for implementation and usability of MR-enhanced multidisciplinary screening tool for early detection of cognitive impairments in the elderly. METHODS In this cross-over design study protocol 100 healthy participants (aged 60-75 years) will be screened for cognitive declines using: i) specially developed MST (assessment of cognitive functions, olfactory sensitivity, nutritional preferences, gait parameters, reaction times, activities of daily living, and ii) MR-enhanced MST in which the assessments of cognitive functions, reaction time, activities of daily living and gait are performed using tailor made software and AR- and VR hardware. The results of the MR-enhanced MST will be compared with those without MR. The usability of the developed MR-enhanced MST will be tested on 10 investigators and 10 test participants using observed summative evaluation and the co-discovery method and on 2 usability experts using the co-discovery and the cognitive walkthrough method. RESULTS This study was funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency, grant number 866873 and received Ethic Vote from the Ethic committee of the Medical University of Graz. The MR-MST prototype and the study protocol for the present study were developed. As of May 09, 2022, 15 participants have been screened. To date, no results are available for this study protocol. CONCLUSIONS The development of the MR-MST prototype enables identifying best practise procedure for evaluating cognitive declines in the elderly using multimodal and AR/VR-enhanced screenings.