"Guttmann Cognitest®," a digital solution for assessing cognitive performance in adult population: A feasibility and usability pilot study.

Background: As the world population continues to age, the prevalence of neurological diseases, such as dementia, poses a significant challenge to society. Detecting cognitive impairment at an early stage is vital in preserving and enhancing cognitive function. Digital tools, particularly mHealth, offer a practical solution for large-scale population screening and prompt follow-up assessments of cognitive function, thus overcoming economic and time limitations. Objective: In this work, two versions of a digital solution called Guttmann Cognitest® were tested. Methods: Two hundred and one middle-aged adults used the first version (Group A), while 132 used the second one, which included improved tutorials and practice screens (Group B). This second version was also validated in an older age group (Group C). Results: This digital solution was found to be highly satisfactory in terms of usability and feasibility, with good acceptability among all three groups. Specifically for Group B, the system usability scale score obtained classifies the solution as the best imaginable in terms of usability. Conclusions: Guttmann Cognitest® has been shown to be effective and well-perceived, with a high potential for sustained engagement in tracking changes in cognitive function.

"Guttmann Cognitest"®, preliminary validation of a digital solution to test cognitive performance.

Thanks to technological advances, the administration of cognitive assessments via digital solutions continues to increase, both in research and clinical practice. "Guttmann Cognitest"°ledR is a digital solution for cognitive assessment which includes seven computerized tasks designed to assess main cognitive functions requiring approximately 20 min to be completed. The purpose of the present study was to validate it against standard and more extensive in-person neuropsychological assessments in the context of the Barcelona Brain Health Initiative (BBHI) cohort study. We studied 274 participants of the BBHI (126 women, mean age = 56.14, age range 44-69), who underwent an extensive in-person assessment, including a classical paper-and-pencil neuropsychological assessment and a cognitive assessment via the "Guttmann Cognitest"°ledR. Principal component analysis indicated that "Guttmann Cognitest"°ledR measures four main cognitive domains and convergent validity analysis demonstrated that cognitive performance was associated with gold standard paper and pencil tests. Results also showed an expected negative correlation with age, a relation with educational level as well as a gender effect. Regression-based norming equations for the sample tested are also reported. Performing a cognitive assessment with this digital solution is feasible and potentially useful to gather information about cognitive functioning in large samples and experimental settings.

Validation and Normative Data of the Spanish Version of the Face Name Associative Memory Exam (S-FNAME).

OBJECTIVE: The relevance of the episodic memory in the prediction of brain aging is well known. The Face Name Associative Memory Exam (FNAME) is a valued associative memory measure related to Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers, such as amyloid-ß deposition preclinical AD individuals. Previous validation of the Spanish version of the FNAME test (S-FNAME) provided normative data and psychometric characteristics. The study was limited to subjects attending a memory clinic and included a reduced sample with gender inequality distribution. The purpose of this study was to assess S-FNAME psychometric properties and provide normative data in a larger independent sample of cognitively healthy individuals. METHOD: S-FNAME was administered to 511 cognitively healthy volunteers (242 women, aged 41-65 years) participating in the Barcelona Brain Health Initiative cohort study. RESULTS: Factor analysis supported construct validity revealing two underlying components: face-name and face-occupation and explaining 95.34% of the total variance, with satisfactory goodness of fit. Correlations between S-FNAME and Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test were statistically significant and confirmed its convergent validity. We also found weak correlations with non-memory tests supporting divergent validity. Women showed better scores, and S-FNAME was positively correlated with education and negatively with age. Finally, we generated normative data. CONCLUSIONS: The S-FNAME test exhibits good psychometric properties, consistent with previous findings, resulting in a valid and reliable tool to assess episodic memory in cognitively healthy middle-aged adults. It is a promising test for the early detection of subtle memory dysfunction associated with abnormal brain aging.

Aging in the Digital Age: Using Technology to Increase the Reach of the Clinician Expert and Close the Gap Between Health Span and Life Span.

Age-related cognitive impairment (ARCI) has a profound impact on individuals, families, health care systems, and societies at large. Evidence suggests that ARCI is the consequence of underlying brain pathology. Therefore, efforts to minimize the impact of ARCI and thus closing the gap between health span and life span, which has widened in recent years, requires early detection and timely deployment of targeted, personalized interventions. Access to clinical experts is limited and technology screening and assessment methods are thus appealing. However, as traditionally implemented patients were deprived of the benefit of personalized connection with a clinician, which is particularly critical for the prescription and to ensure the adherence to and ultimate success of therapeutic interventions. We present the concept of Intelligent Technology Therapy Assistant (ITA) as a scalable solution that increases the reach of clinical experts while sustaining the personal connection between each patient and their clinician. We illustrate ITA with the "Guttman Neuro Personal Trainer"®, a tele-rehabilitation platform that provides neuropsychological evaluation and care, and the Barcelona Brain Health Initiative (BBHI) multimodal intervention coaching app, a mobile-based platform that provides lifestyle coaching support in domains related to brain health. In addition, we discuss the translation of these models to a large-scale enterprise with Linus Health. To this end, we conclude with a discussion of challenges and opportunities to move the field forward.

Technologies for Monitoring Lifestyle Habits Related to Brain Health: A Systematic Review.

Brain health refers to the preservation of brain integrity and function optimized for an individual's biological age. Several studies have demonstrated that our lifestyles habits impact our brain health and our cognitive and mental wellbeing. Monitoring such lifestyles is thus critical and mobile technologies are essential to enable such a goal. Three databases were selected to carry out the search. Then, a PRISMA and PICOTS based criteria for a more detailed review on the basis of monitoring lifestyle aspects were used to filter the publications. We identified 133 publications after removing duplicates. Fifteen were finally selected from our criteria. Many studies still use questionnaires as the only tool for monitoring and do not apply advanced analytic or AI approaches to fine-tune results. We anticipate a transformative boom in the near future developing and implementing solutions that are able to integrate, in a flexible and adaptable way, data from technologies and devices that users might already use. This will enable continuous monitoring of objective data to guide the personalized definition of lifestyle goals and data-driven coaching to offer the necessary support to ensure adherence and satisfaction.