Affiliations: [a] Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Lui Che Woo Institute of Innovative Medicine, Hong Kong, China
| [b] Therese Pei Fong Chow Research Center for Prevention of Dementia, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| [c] Cognix Limited, Pak Shek Kok, Hong Kong and Former Research Fellow at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| [d] Chow Yuk Ho Technology Center for Innovative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| [e] Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Correspondence:
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Correspondence to: Raymond Kai-yu Tong, Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China. Tel.: +86 852 3943 8454; E-mail: kytong@cuhk.edu.hk.
Abstract: Background:Computerized cognitive tests may serve as a preliminary, low-cost method to identify individuals with suspected cognitive impairment in the community. Objective:To develop a self-administered computerized test, namely the “Computerized Cognitive Screen (CoCoSc), Hong Kong version”, for screening of individuals with cognitive impairment (CI) in community settings. Methods:The CoCoSc is a 15-min computerized cognitive screen covering memory, executive functions, orientation, attention and working memory, and prospective memory administered on a touchscreen computer. Individuals with CI and cognitively normal controls were administered the CoCoSc and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Validity of the CoCoSc was assessed based on the relationship with the MoCA using Pearson correlation. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to examine the ability of the CoCoSc to differentiate CI from controls. Results:Fifty-nine individuals with CI and 101 controls were recruited. Seventy-five (46.9%) participants had ≤6 years of education. Performance on the CoCoSc differed between normal and CI groups in both low and high education subgroups. Total scores of the CoCoSc and MoCA were significantly correlated (r = 0.71, p < 0.001). The area under ROC was 0.78, p < 0.001 for the CoCoSc total score in differentiating the CI group from the cognitively normal group. A cut-off of ≤30 on the CoCoSc was associated with a sensitivity of 0.78 and specificity of 0.69. The CoCoSc was well accepted by attendees of community social centers. Conclusion:The CoCoSc is a promising computerized cognitive screen for self-administration in community social centers. It is feasible for testing individuals with high or low education levels.
Keywords: Cognitive function, mass screening, mild cognitive impairment, neuropsychology, self-assessment
