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Current State of Self-Administered Brief Computerized Cognitive Assessments for Detection of Cognitive Disorders in Older Adults: A Systematic Review
Tsoy E, Zygouris S, Possin KL.. The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease, 2021-01-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Early diagnosis of cognitive disorders in older adults is a major healthcare priority with benefits to patients, families, and health systems. Rapid advances in digital technology offer potential for developing innovative diagnostic pathways to support early diagnosis. Brief self-administered computerized cognitive tools in particular hold promise for clinical implementation by minimizing demands on staff time. In this study, we conducted a systematic review of self-administered computerized cognitive assessment measures designed for the detection of cognitive impairment in older adults. Studies were identified via a systematic search of published peer-reviewed literature across major scientific databases. All studies reporting on psychometric validation of brief (≤30 minutes) self-administered computerized measures for detection of MCI and all-cause dementia in older adults were included. Seventeen studies reporting on 10 cognitive tools met inclusion criteria and were subjected to systematic review. There was substantial variability in characteristics of validation samples and reliability and validity estimates. Only 2 measures evaluated feasibility and usability in the intended clinical settings. Similar to past reviews, we found variability across measures with regard to psychometric rigor and potential for widescale applicability in clinical settings. Despite the promise that self-administered cognitive tests hold for clinical implementation, important gaps in scientific rigor in development, validation, and feasibility studies of these measures remain. Developments in technology and biomarker studies provide potential avenues for future directions on the use of digital technology in clinical care.
Key findings
- Similar to past reviews, we found variability across measures with regard to psychometric rigor and potential for widescale applicability in clinical settings.
Why it matters
This review of self-administered computerized cognitive tests found substantial variability in their quality and limited evidence on feasibility in real clinical settings. It is about assessment tools and does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Study designsystematic review
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 63/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a systematic review of all the studies on the question. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported and studied in people because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer s Disease: journal h-index 63 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A systematic review of all the studies on the question |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 3 / 5 | 2021 — within 6 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 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 92 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 13.1 citations a year over 7 year(s) since 2021 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 3 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 60 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Katherine L. Possin: h-index 57 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of California, San Francisco: institution h-index 1,915 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 4 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 34101783) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 63 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.14283/jpad.2021.11
- PubMed: 34101783
- Original source →
- Free full text: The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer s Disease →
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
Tsoy, E., Zygouris, S., & Possin, K. L. (2021). Current State of Self-Administered Brief Computerized Cognitive Assessments for Detection of Cognitive Disorders in Older Adults: A Systematic Review. The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease. https://doi.org/10.14283/jpad.2021.11
Vancouver
Tsoy E, Zygouris S, Possin KL. Current State of Self-Administered Brief Computerized Cognitive Assessments for Detection of Cognitive Disorders in Older Adults: A Systematic Review. The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease. 2021. doi:10.14283/jpad.2021.11. PMID: 34101783.
BibTeX
@article{tsoy2021-34101783,
author = {Tsoy, E. and Zygouris, S. and Possin, K. L.},
title = {{Current State of Self-Administered Brief Computerized Cognitive Assessments for Detection of Cognitive Disorders in Older Adults: A Systematic Review}},
journal = {The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease},
year = {2021},
doi = {10.14283/jpad.2021.11},
pmid = {34101783},
url = {https://doi.org/10.14283/jpad.2021.11}
}
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