Evaluation of the Potential Use of a Tablet-based Cognitive Test (NCGG-FAT) for Older Adults with Cognitive Decline

Abstract

This study clarified the potential use of a tablet-based test for older adults with cognitive decline. Ten participants with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) and five with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) performed seven tasks from the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology Functional Assessment Tool (NCGG-FAT) using a touch screen and stylus pen, according to the examiner’s instructions. The evaluation items included whether the participants completed each task, behavioral observations, the time required to complete the tasks, and impressions of use. Consequently, the MCI subjects were able to use all the targeted tasks, while people with AD were unable to use “word list memory (immediate recall),” “attention,” “executive function,” and “processing speed” tasks. Participants with AD had difficulty understanding and fully retaining the rules for some tasks. Participants with severer dementia symptoms took longer to perform the tasks and required more assistance. Most participants reported that the tasks were difficult, but the devices were easy to use. To make the device dementia friendly, the patient's memory and attention span must be considered. Suggestions for improvement include a constant display of instructional messages during the test execution, more practice sessions, and simplified task content.