scholarly journals A remote smartphone cognitive testing battery for frontotemporal dementia: Completion rate, reliability, and validity

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (S6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam M. Staffaroni ◽  
Jack C Taylor ◽  
Annie L Clark ◽  
Hilary W. Heuer ◽  
Leah K. Forsberg ◽  
...  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. ii145-ii145
Author(s):  
Giuliana Zarrella ◽  
Alice Perez ◽  
Jorg Dietrich ◽  
Michael Parsons

Abstract INTRODUCTION Subjective cognitive dysfunction is an important outcome measure in neuro-oncology and may provide additional information beyond performance-based neuropsychological testing. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Brain (FACT-Br) is a frequently used quality of life (QoL) measure that includes indices of physical, emotional, social, and neurologic aspects of disease, but does not measure cognitive concerns. This study seeks to develop and validate an index of self-reported cognition derived from existing items on the FACT-Br. METHODS 145 patients (Mage=51.08, Medu=15.63) with heterogeneous brain tumor diagnoses completed neuropsychological evaluation including cognitive testing and self-report measures. Nine FACT-Br items regarding cognition were combined to form the Cognitive Index (CI). Reliability of the CI was measured with Cronbach’s alpha. Concurrent validity was assessed by correlating the CI with the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Cognitive Abilities-8 or PROMIS Cognitive Concerns-8. Discriminant validity was assessed by correlation of the CI with other FACT-Br indices and the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories (BDI, BAI). RESULTS Internal consistency within the CI was high (Cronbach’s a 0.864). The CI correlated strongly with the PROMIS-Abilities (r =.680; p< 0.001) and PROMIS-Concerns (r=.780; p< 0.001) indicating high convergent validity. Moderate correlations were observed between the CI and the physical and functional subscales of the FACT (r=.453 and .555), whereas correlations with the social and emotional functioning subscales were weaker (r=.381 and .325). The FACT-Br-CI correlated strongly with BDI (r=-.622) and more weakly with the BAI (r=-.344). Consistent with prior literature, the CI showed modest correlations with neuropsychological measures, including verbal memory encoding (r=.300), verbal fluency (r=.252) and a composite measure of cognition (r=.249; all p’s< .01). CONCLUSIONS The FACT-Br-CI is a reliable and valid measure of self-reported cognition. Studies that include the FACT-Br could be retrospectively analyzed to assess self-reported cognitive outcomes, enriching the information gained from prior research.


2020 ◽  
pp. practneurol-2020-002730
Author(s):  
Matthew Gowell ◽  
Ian Baker ◽  
Olaf Ansorge ◽  
Masud Husain

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is an uncommon cause of behavioural change in adults under the age of 50. A 44-year-old man presented with progressive neuropsychiatric disturbance characterised by social withdrawal, apathy, loss of empathy, motor stereotypies and hyperorality. Cognitive testing identified severe impairment, including executive dysfunction. MR scan of the brain showed bilateral symmetrical frontal atrophy. There was no relevant family history, and targeted genetic testing for FTD-associated variants in MAPT, GRN and C9orf72 genes proved negative. He became more withdrawn with disinhibited behaviour; his condition progressively worsened and he died 6 years later. The pathological diagnosis was frontotemporal lobar degeneration with fused-in-sarcoma (FUS) pathology, a rare sporadic cause of FTD, accounting for only 5%–10% of cases, its characteristic features including very young onset, motor stereotypies and hyperorality.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aniek M van Gils ◽  
Leonie NC Visser ◽  
Heleen MA Hendriksen ◽  
Jean Georges ◽  
Majon Muller ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Computer tools based on artificial intelligence could aid clinicians in memory clinics in several ways, for instance by supporting diagnostic decision-making, online cognitive testing, and communicate diagnosis and prognosis. OBJECTIVE We aimed to identify preferences and main barriers and facilitators for using computer tools in memory clinics of all end-users, i.e., clinicians, patients, and care partners. METHODS Between July and October 2020, we sent out an invitation to an online survey to clinicians using the European Alzheimer’s Disease Centers network and Dutch Memory Clinic network, in which 109 clinicians participated (45±10y, 49%F). A second survey was created for patients and care partners. They were invited via Alzheimer Europe, Alzheimer’s Society UK, the Amsterdam Dementia Cohort, and the Amsterdam Ageing Cohort. A total of 50 patients with subjective cognitive decline (SCD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or dementia (73±8y, 34%F) and 46 care partners (65±12y, 54%F) participated. RESULTS The vast majority of clinicians reported a willingness to use diagnostic and prognostic computer tools. User-friendliness and increasing diagnostic accuracy were reported as the main factors to stimulate the adoption of a tool. Tools should also be time-saving and provide clear information on reliability and validity. Inadequate integration with electronic patient records and fear of losing important clinical information were most frequently indicated as barriers. Patients and care partners were equally positive about the use of computer tools by clinicians, both for diagnosis and prognosis. In addition, most of them thought favorably of the possibility of using tools themselves CONCLUSIONS This study shows that computer tools in memory clinics are positively valued by most end-users. For further development and implementation, it is essential to overcome technical and practical barriers whilst paying utmost attention to the reliability and validity of a tool.


2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 168-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederikke Jeppesen Kragh ◽  
Marie Bruun ◽  
Esben Budtz-Jørgensen ◽  
Lena Elisabeth Hjermind ◽  
Robin Schubert ◽  
...  

Background: This study examines the efficacy of using quantitative measurements of motor dysfunction, compared to clinical ratings, in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 49 patients with a diagnosis of AD (n = 17), FTD (n = 19), or DLB (n = 13) were included and underwent cognitive testing, clinical motor evaluation, and quantitative motor tests: pronation/supination hand tapping, grasping and lifting, and finger and foot tapping. Results: Our results revealed significantly higher Q-Motor values in pronation/supination and in grip lift force assessment in AD, FTD, and DLB compared to healthy controls (HC). Q-Motor values detected significant differences between AD and HC, while clinical ratings did not. Conclusion: Our results suggest that quantitative measurements provide more objective and sensitive measurements of motor dysfunction in dementia.


2003 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 223-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Kertesz ◽  
Wilda Davidson ◽  
Patricia McCabe ◽  
David Munoz

2007 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 266-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graziella Milan ◽  
Alessandro Iavarone ◽  
Elisa Lorè ◽  
Sara Vitaliano ◽  
Francesco Lamenza ◽  
...  

2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 554-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire M. A. Haworth ◽  
Nicole Harlaar ◽  
Yulia Kovas ◽  
Oliver S. P. Davis ◽  
Bonamy R. Oliver ◽  
...  

AbstractQuantitative and molecular genetic research requires large samples to provide adequate statistical power, but it is expensive to test large samples in person, especially when the participants are widely distributed geographically. Increasing access to inexpensive and fast Internet connections makes it possible to test large samples efficiently and economically online. Reliability and validity of Internet testing for cognitive ability have not been previously reported; these issues are especially pertinent for testing children. We developed Internet versions of reading, language, mathematics and general cognitive ability tests and investigated their reliability and validity for 10- and 12-year-old children. We tested online more than 2500 pairs of 10-year-old twins and compared their scores to similar internet-based measures administered online to a subsample of the children when they were 12 years old (> 759 pairs). Within 3 months of the online testing at 12 years, we administered standard paper and pencil versions of the reading and mathematics tests in person to 30 children (15 pairs of twins). Scores on Internet-based measures at 10 and 12 years correlated .63 on average across the two years, suggesting substantial stability and high reliability. Correlations of about .80 between Internet measures and in-person testing suggest excellent validity. In addition, the comparison of the internet-based measures to ratings from teachers based on criteria from the UK National Curriculum suggests good concurrent validity for these tests. We conclude that Internet testing can be reliable and valid for collecting cognitive test data on large samples even for children as young as 10 years.


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