Mobile Technologies in the Early Detection of Cognitive Decline

Abstract

The identification of biological and pathophysiological processes implicated in different forms of dementia is itself dependent on reliable descriptions of cognitive performance and capacities. However, traditional instruments are often unable to detect subtle declines in cognitive functions due to natural variation at the time of testing. Mobile technologies permit the repeated assessment of cognitive functions and may thereby provide more reliable descriptions of early cognitive difficulties that are inaccessible to clinic or hospital-based instruments. This assessment strategy is also able to characterize in real-time the dynamic associations between cognitive performance and specific daily life behaviors or activities. In a cohort of elderly rural residents, 60 individuals were administered neuropsychological and neuroimaging exams as well as a one-week period of electronic ambulatory monitoring of behavior, semantic memory performance, and daily life experiences. Whereas imaging markers were unrelated to traditional neuropsychological test scores, they were significantly associated with mobile assessments of semantic memory performance. Moreover, certain daily life activities such as reading or completing crossword puzzles were associated with increases in semantic memory performance over the subsequent hours of the same day. The revolution in mobile technologies provides unprecedented opportunities to overcome the barriers of time and context that characterize traditional hospital and clinical-based assessments. The combination of both novel and traditional methods should provide the best opportunity for identifying the earliest risk factors and biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.

Mobile health solutions for the aging population: A systematic narrative analysis

“…Another example of this is the effectiveness that mental stimulation can have on prolonging the onset of dementia, which our reviewers identified as effective in one aspect of the disease. 39 However, the authors noted that mental stimulation was only one factor that may delay the onset of dementia. Our reviewers identified this as ineffective because it would not apply to all of the potential dementia sufferers in the aging population.…”

“…Effective, outcomes, and communicative were mentioned in 6/60 occurrences (10%). 27,28,30,[37][38][39][40]45,46,48,53,[54][55][56]58 mHealth can change behaviour through feedback. It can mentally stimulate patients to delay the advance of dementia, improve triage decisions and arrangement of transportation through communication channels, increase self-efficacy augmenting existing interventions and thereby outcomes.…”

“…The outcomes theme included early diagnosis, mobile interventions to stimulate mental activity, encouraging a more active role of patients in their conditions, and increased medication and therapy adherence, and an enabler to detect falls. 27,39,45,46,56,58 Mobile technology can also serve as a tool of communication to augment existing modalities to provide real-time data and increase the level of communication between patient and provider. 28,30,37,40,45,54 Quality of life was mentioned in 5/60 occurrences (8%), and it encompassed observations that mobile technology can make life easier, convenient and more comfortable for the user.…”

“…24,26,29,[44][45][46]50,51 Due to the cost of technology, this method of delivery of care highlights a digital divide, and it creates a sense of exclusivity and complexity which can create limitations based on the user's abilities. [23][24][25][30][31][32][33]37,39,43,45,46,55 This theme encompassed observations that organisations need additional technical personnel to handle the additional workload associated with this new modality of care.…”

Developing a Sensor based Homecare System - The Role of Bluetooth Low-Energy in Activity Monitoring

“…Research areas such as telehealth and telecare look to alert care givers and other care stakeholders to potential events taking place inside the home which may require their attention such as fall detectors, changes sedentary levels and possible malnourishment (Stowe, S., & Harding, S., 2010). Research within intelligent healthcare has substantiated the efficacy of remote caring technologies for NCDs such as heart disease and diabetes through increased monitoring in the home (Allard et al, 2014).…”