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Application of Upper Limb Multimodal Tasks Combined With fNIRS Technology in the Assessment of Mild Cognitive Impairment
Zhenda You, Ying Liu, Zengyong Li, J. Liu, Jian Li. Journal of Biophotonics, 2025-05-14
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is primarily characterized by a gradual decline in cognitive function, where early detection and intervention are crucial to preventing Alzheimer's disease progression. This study integrates upper limb multimodal tasks (ULMTs) with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to assess cognitive and motor functions in MCI patients. Thirty-seven elderly participants were categorized into healthy control (HC) and MCI groups. The experiment consisted of resting state, numerical cognitive task (NCT), motor task (MT), and ULMT phases. fNIRS measured hemodynamic responses in the prefrontal and motor cortices, while an upper limb trainer recorded motor data. Results showed weaker cortical responses in the MCI group during rest and reduced motor cortex activation during NCT. Both groups displayed increased cortical activity during ULMT compared to NCT but reduced motor performance compared to MT. These findings demonstrate the potential of ULMTs combined with fNIRS for early MCI assessment and intervention.
Key findings
- Results showed weaker cortical responses in the MCI group during rest and reduced motor cortex activation during NCT.
- Both groups displayed increased cortical activity during ULMT compared to NCT but reduced motor performance compared to MT.
- These findings demonstrate the potential of ULMTs combined with fNIRS for early MCI assessment and intervention.
Why it matters
In 37 elderly participants, combining upper limb multimodal tasks with functional near-infrared spectroscopy showed weaker cortical responses in the mild cognitive impairment group during rest and reduced motor cortex activation during a numerical cognitive task. This is a small assessment study exploring early detection, not a treatment or cure.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 33/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Biophotonics) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Journal of Biophotonics: journal h-index 92 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Jian Li: h-index 20 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications: institution h-index 397 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40364662) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 33 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1002/jbio.202500020
- PubMed: 40364662
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Biophotonics →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
You, Z., Liu, Y., Li, Z., Liu, J., & Li, J. (2025). Application of Upper Limb Multimodal Tasks Combined With fNIRS Technology in the Assessment of Mild Cognitive Impairment. Journal of Biophotonics. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbio.202500020
Vancouver
You Z, Liu Y, Li Z, Liu J, Li J. Application of Upper Limb Multimodal Tasks Combined With fNIRS Technology in the Assessment of Mild Cognitive Impairment. Journal of Biophotonics. 2025. doi:10.1002/jbio.202500020. PMID: 40364662.
BibTeX
@article{you2025-40364662,
author = {You, Zhenda and Liu, Ying and Li, Zengyong and Liu, J. and Li, Jian},
title = {{Application of Upper Limb Multimodal Tasks Combined With fNIRS Technology in the Assessment of Mild Cognitive Impairment}},
journal = {Journal of Biophotonics},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1002/jbio.202500020},
pmid = {40364662},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/jbio.202500020}
}
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