Can a tablet-based cancellation test identify cognitive impairment in older adults?

Background And Objective: There has been a growing interest in using computerized cognitive assessment to detect age-related cognitive disorders. We have developed a tablet-based cancellation test (e-CT), previously shown as a reliable measure of executive functions and free of effect of familiarity with computer-based devices in healthy older adults. This study aimed to investigate the influence of demographics and current daily use of computer-based devices in older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD).

GREFON recommendations for assessment of instrumental activities of daily living in memory clinics.

Following a review of the available assessment scales and current practices of evaluation of instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) in French memory centres by GREFON (Groupe de réflexion sur l'évaluation fonctionnelle; Working Group on Functional Assessment), the main aim of this position paper was to provide good clinical practice (GCP) guidelines for the assessment of IADL. Another aim was to highlight the need for innovative tools adapted to the present and future evolution of such activities in real life, including the use of new technologies, the need for earlier detection of IADL impairment during the diagnostic process of mild neurocognitive disorders, and greater sensitivity to IADL changes during follow-up to allow adaptation of clinical management and evaluation of the impact of therapeutic interventions.

Clinical utility of the K-T cancellation test in a memory clinic population.

Background/aim: The K-T cancellation test (K-T) has been validated as a measure of executive functions (EF) but its clinical utility has not yet been examined. This study aimed to validate K-T in a memory clinic setting by examining its capacity to discriminate older adults with normal cognition (NC) from those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Method: K-T was administered to 120 NC subjects, 146 patients with MCI, and 93 patients with AD.

Group and individual cognitive therapies in Alzheimer's disease: the ETNA3 randomized trial.

Background: Although non-drug interventions are widely used in patients with Alzheimer's disease, few large scale randomized trials involving a long-term intervention and several cognitive-oriented approaches have been carried out. ETNA3 trial compares the effect of cognitive training, reminiscence therapy, and an individualized cognitive rehabilitation program in Alzheimer's disease to usual care.

Methods: This is a multicenter (40 French clinical sites) randomized, parallel-group trial, with a two-year follow-up comparing groups receiving standardized programs of cognitive training (group sessions), reminiscence therapy (group sessions), individualized cognitive rehabilitation program (individual sessions), and usual care (reference group).

A Tablet-PC-Based Cancellation Test Assessing Executive Functions in Older Adults.

Objective: To examine older adults' performance on a newly developed tablet-PC-based cancellation test (e-CT) and to study its psychometric properties.

Methods: 94 older adults with normal cognitive functioning were recruited. The effects of age, education, sex, and experience with computer-based devices on the e-CT were examined.

A qualitative review of instrumental activities of daily living in dementia: what's cooking?

The measurement of instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) is common in clinical practice and research into dementia. IADL are cognitively complex daily activities, such as cooking and doing finances. Their measurement is required for the diagnostic process of dementia, and also useful for the monitoring of disease progression.

A web-based program for informal caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease: an iterative user-centered design.

Background: Web-based programs have been developed for informal caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease (PWAD). However, these programs can prove difficult to adopt, especially for older people, who are less familiar with the Internet than other populations. Despite the fundamental role of usability testing in promoting caregivers' correct use and adoption of these programs, to our knowledge, this is the first study describing this process before evaluating a program for caregivers of PWAD in a randomized clinical trial.

[DAD-6: an abbreviated version of the DAD scale (disability assessment for dementia). An instrument for detection of loss of autonomy at an early stage].

This paper presents the French version of DAD-6, a validated instrument for the assessment of IADL (instrumental activities of daily living) considered as intentional and complex activities. A loss of autonomy remains a major criterion in the diagnosis of dementia. In addition, IADL assessment is recommended as a primary outcome in dementia drug trials.

The Attitudes and Perceptions of Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment Toward an Assistive Robot.

The purpose of this study was to explore perceived difficulties and needs of older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and their attitudes toward an assistive robot to develop appropriate robot functionalities. Twenty subjects were recruited to participate in either a focus group or an interview. Findings revealed that although participants reported difficulties in managing some of their daily activities, they did not see themselves as needing assistance.

Evaluating the efficacy of a web-based program (diapason) for informal caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease: protocol for a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Informal caregivers (CGs) of patients with Alzheimer's disease are at risk of suffering from psychological and physical weakening. Several psychoeducational interventions have been designed to prevent stress and burden of caregivers. In France, despite health authorities' recommendations, to our knowledge there is no rigorously assessed Web-based psychoeducational program to date.

Does cognitive function increase over time in the healthy elderly?

Background: In dementia screening, most studies have focused on early cognitive impairment by comparing patients suffering from mild dementia or mild cognitive impairment with normal subjects. Few studies have focused on modifications over time of the cognitive function in the healthy elderly. The objective of the present study was to analyze the cognitive function changes of two different samples, born > 15 years apart.

The K-T cancellation test in the older adults: Normative data and construct validity.

Since cutoff scores are necessary for differentiating normal cognitive functioning from dementia, the main objective of this study was to establish normative data of the K-T test, a standardized cancellation test. The construct validity of K-T test was also investigated. In total, 2471 cognitively intact elderly subjects from the SU.

DAD-6: A 6-ltem version of the Disability Assessment for Dementia scale which may differentiate Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment from controls.

Background: The need to detect early changes in instrumental activities of daily life led us to modify the Disability Assessment for Dementia Scale (DAD) by focusing on executive components of 6 instrumental items (DAD-6).

Aim: To evaluate the relevance of the DAD-6 for detecting early impairment in a nondemented population.

Methods: The DAD-6 was administered to informants of 84 patients: 31 with mild dementia (MD), 53 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 55 healthy controls.

[Support for patients with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers by gerontechnology].

The increasing number of people suffering from Alzheimer's disease raises the question of their caring at home, especially when the disease causes disability and negative consequences in daily life such as isolation, falls, wandering, errors in drug taking. Furthermore, caregivers bear a substantial burden that can have adverse effects on their physical and mental health. New technologies of information could play an additional role as care providers without substituting family or professional caregivers help.

Do patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease benefit from a psycho-educational programme for family caregivers? A randomised controlled study.

Objective: The Aide dans la Maladie d'Alzheimer (AIDMA) study was conducted to determine whether a psycho-educational programme (PEP) for primary caregivers in addition to standard anti-dementia drugs for patients improves caregivers' psychological condition and patients' activities of daily life.

Method: Multicentre randomised controlled intervention trial. One hundred and sixty-seven dyads 'patient-caregiver' were recruited from 15 French memory clinics and randomised in two parallel groups.

Cognitive intervention programmes on patients affected by Mild Cognitive Impairment: a promising intervention tool for MCI?

Purpose: This paper examines and reviews studies on the efficacy of computer-based cognitive intervention programmes in the elderly affected by Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). MCI patients are at higher risk to progress to dementia. Recent effort has been made to slow the cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia in this population.

[Information and communication technology interventions supporting carers of people with Alzheimer's disease: a literature review].

Caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease or related disorders are exposed to many stress factors which increase the risk of developing physical and psychological disturbances. To limit these negative effects, different psychosocial interventions for carers have been proposed. With progress in technologies, telephone or the internet can offer flexible and tailored means to deliver this kind of interventions.

Amnestic syndrome of the medial temporal type identifies prodromal AD: a longitudinal study.

Objective: To compare the power of tests assessing different cognitive domains for the identification of prodromal Alzheimer disease (AD) among patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Background: Given the early involvement of the medial temporal lobe, a precocious and specific pattern of memory disorders might be expected for the identification of prodromal AD.

Methods: A total of 251 patients with MCI were tested at baseline by a standardized neuropsychological battery, which included the Free and Cued Selective Recall Reminding Test (FCSRT) for verbal episodic memory; the Benton Visual Retention Test for visual memory; the Deno 100 and verbal fluency for language; a serial digit learning test and the double task of Baddeley for working memory; Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) similarities for conceptual elaboration; and the Stroop test, the Trail Making test, and the WAIS digit symbol test for executive functions.

Cognitive stimulation intervention for elders with mild cognitive impairment compared with normal aged subjects: preliminary results.

Background And Aims: Cognitive training programs have been developed for Alzheimer's disease patients and the healthy elderly population. Collective cognitive stimulation programs have been shown to be efficient for subjects with memory complaint. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefit of such cognitive programs in populations with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).

Apolipoprotein E epsilon4 allele frequency in elderly depressed patients with and without cerebrovascular disease.

Late-onset depression (LOD) could be a very early manifestation of Alzheimer's disease (AD), although contradictory results have been reported. Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) may favor the development of LOD, and that the particular forms of vascular depression should be individualized. The Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) epsilon4 allele was shown to be a risk factor for AD.

Relevance of 10-min delayed recall in dementia screening.

Within the context of early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), there is a growing interest in neuropsychological screening tests. Amongst these tests, we focused on the largely used Memory Impairment Screen (MIS). The objective of the present work was to show that adding a 10-min delayed recall to the MIS, improves the test psychometric characteristics in order to detect dementia in the earliest stages.

Accidental MCI in healthy subjects: a prospective longitudinal study.

A study was realized on 130 healthy and autonomous volunteers (60-80 years old) who met specific medical and functional inclusion criteria. A comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests was performed at baseline (M0), 6 and 12 months (M6, M12). At M0 the results indicated that 65% were cognitively normal on each of all the neuropsychological tests, whereas 35% presented a cognitive deficit on one or more tests.