Improving Patient-Centered Dementia Screening for General, Multicultural Population and Persons with Disabilities from Primary Care Professionals with a Web-Based App.

BACKGROUND: Primary care serves as the first point of contact for people with dementia and is therefore a promising setting for screening, assessment, and initiation of specific treatment and care. According to literature, online applications can be effective by addressing different needs, such as screening, health counseling, and improving overall health status. AIM: Our goal was to propose a brief, inexpensive, noninvasive strategy for screening dementia to general, multicultural population and persons with disabilities, through a web-based app with a tailored multicomponent design. METHODS: We designed and developed a web-based application, which combines cognitive tests and biomarkers to assist primary care professionals screen dementia. We then conducted an implementation study to measure the usability of the app. Two groups of experts participated for the selection of the screening instruments, following the Delhi method. Then, 16 primary care professionals assessed the app to their patients (n = 132), and after they measured its usability with System Usability Scale. OUTCOMES: Two cognitive tools were integrated in the app, GPCOG and RUDAS, which are adequate for primary care settings and for screening multicultural and special needs population, without educational or language bias. Also, for assessing biomarkers, the CAIDE model was preferred, which resulted in individualized proposals, concerning the modifiable risk factors. Usability scored high for the majority of users. CONCLUSION: Utilization of the Dementia app could be incorporated into the routine practices of existing healthcare services and screening of multiple population for dementia.

Brief Cognitive Tests in the Case of Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease Early Diagnosis.

Nowadays, Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis is considered to be a crucial and extremely complex process. Nevertheless, psychometric tools, like Mini-Mental State Evaluation (MMSE), are used to address cognitive function assessment and clinical evaluation processes. However, MMSE's sensitivity in the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment is debatable in terms of education, age, or nationality. Typical psychometric tools with the use of "paper and pencil" methods combined with physiology measurements are proposed in order to enhance validity and effectiveness in the case of Alzheimer's disease cognitive deficits. The objective of this review study is to highlight the effectiveness of brief cognitive tests (BCT) in the case of dementia and Alzheimer's disease screening. Authors' future work will focus on the application of BCT in MCI diagnosis and evaluation.

Brain-Computer Interface Design and Neurofeedback Training in the Case of ADHD Rehabilitation.

Neurofeedback video games respond to electrical brain signals instead to a mouse, joystick, or game controller input. These games embody the concept of improving physiological functioning by rewarding specific healthy body signals with success at playing a video game. In this paper, a threefold framework in reference to attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treatment blending with neurofeedback techniques and video game implementation is presented. In particular, the specifications of a neurofeedback-based video game for children dealing with ADHD, in order to enhance attention and concentration skills, are analyzed. Potential boundaries of this cognitive enhancement approach and authors future directions are also discussed.

Scheduling and Modeling a Cognitive Assessment Guide for Screening AD by Primary Care Physicians.

New research data on Alzheimer's Disease define it as a clinicobiological entity, which has a long preclinical and presymptomatic phase. Emphasis has been given in early detection and diagnosis, which will allow professionals, caregivers and patients themselves to plan and adjust better to the response of the disease. Primary care physicians, who most often are the first to witness and perceive cognitive impairment, may play a central role in the diagnostic procedure, but frequently they are reluctant to be engaged to the screening procedure. The aim of this study is to model a practical guideline for mental assessment and screening, which will be part of a whole step-to-step medical instruction policy for primary care physicians. After a careful review of the literature, we propose a two-visits approach. This approach combines the measures to be administered in each visit, with a detailed list of close-ended questions on the factors concerning Alzheimer's screening. The tests are automatically available to the physician through hyperlink connection and the scores are immediately calculated. Clinical trials will follow to test the validity of the proposed guidance.