74 * ASSESSMENT OF COGNITION USING COGNITIVE TRAINING APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Introduction: Cognitive training (CT) has been suggested as a treatment to improve cognition in patients with dementia. Given the increased availability and use of smartphone and tablets applications, we investigated the ability of older adults, particularly those with dementia, to engage with these technologies, and whether CT has an alternative role in the assessment of cognition.Methods: Patients with cognitive impairment attending a university hospital memory clinic and day hospital, completed a questionnaire (n = 40) detailing the frequency and breadth of technology use. Participants were then instructed to use a tablet computer and complete three CT apps. CT scores were correlated with demographics, questionnaire results and total Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores.Results: All three CT app tasks were fully completed by 85% (n = 34) of participants; 79.4% (n = 27) would use them again, and 23.5% (n = 8) found using the CT apps ‘easy’. There was a moderate, significant correlation between the number of technology based devices used in the home, and total CT scores (r = 0.41, p = 0.02). Total CT scores were found to be significantly correlated with total MoCA scores (r = 0.78, p < .01). MoCA subtests, apart from delayed recall, were also significantly related to CT scores. After correcting for frequency of technology use, CT scores were found to be significantly predictive of MoCA scores.Conclusions: Total CT scores for patients with mild to moderate dementia reflect MoCA scores, thus providing a possible marker of cognitive function. CT applications may represent a combined diagnostic and treatment modality, which can track cognition over time. It also may be more acceptable to older adults than traditional confrontational cognitive testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]