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Diagnostic performance of digital cognitive tests for the identification of MCI and dementia: A systematic review
Chan JYC, Yau STY, Kwok TCY, Tsoi KKF.. Ageing research reviews, 2021-10-30
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background The use of digital cognitive tests is getting common nowadays. Older adults or their family members may use online tests for self-screening of dementia. However, the diagnostic performance across different digital tests is still to clarify. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of digital cognitive tests for MCI and dementia in older adults. Methods Literature searches were systematically performed in the OVID databases. Validation studies that reported the diagnostic performance of a digital cognitive test for MCI or dementia were included. The main outcome was the diagnostic performance of the digital test for the detection of MCI or dementia. Results A total of 56 studies with 46 digital cognitive tests were included in this study. Most of the digital cognitive tests were shown to have comparable diagnostic performances with the paper-and-pencil tests. Twenty-two digital cognitive tests showed a good diagnostic performance for dementia, with a sensitivity and a specificity over 0.80, such as the Computerized Visuo-Spatial Memory test and Self-Administered Tasks Uncovering Risk of Neurodegeneration. Eleven digital cognitive tests showed a good diagnostic performance for MCI such as the Brain Health Assessment. However, all the digital tests only had a few validation studies to verify their performance. Conclusions Digital cognitive tests showed good performances for MCI and dementia. The digital test can collect digital data that is far beyond the traditional ways of cognitive tests. Future research is suggested on these new forms of cognitive data for the early detection of MCI and dementia.
Key findings
- Results A total of 56 studies with 46 digital cognitive tests were included in this study.
Why it matters
This systematic review found that most digital cognitive tests had diagnostic performance comparable to paper-and-pencil tests for detecting mild cognitive impairment or dementia. However, all the digital tests had only a few validation studies, so their performance is not yet well established.
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Study details
- Participants56
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 61/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a systematic review of all the studies on the question. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Ageing research reviews) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Ageing Research Reviews: journal h-index 225 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A systematic review of all the studies on the question (from PubMed type “Systematic Review”) |
| 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 | 3 / 5 | 2021 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 56 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 110 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 15.7 citations a year over 7 year(s) since 2021 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 5 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 84 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Kelvin K.F. Tsoi: h-index 55 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Chinese University of Hong Kong: institution h-index 1,100 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 34744026) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 61 / 100 | — |
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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
Chan, J. Y. C., Yau, S. T. Y., Kwok, T. C. Y., & Tsoi, K. K. F. (2021). Diagnostic performance of digital cognitive tests for the identification of MCI and dementia: A systematic review. Ageing research reviews. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2021.101506
Vancouver
Chan JYC, Yau STY, Kwok TCY, Tsoi KKF. Diagnostic performance of digital cognitive tests for the identification of MCI and dementia: A systematic review. Ageing research reviews. 2021. doi:10.1016/j.arr.2021.101506. PMID: 34744026.
BibTeX
@article{chan2021-34744026,
author = {Chan, J. Y. C. and Yau, S. T. Y. and Kwok, T. C. Y. and Tsoi, K. K. F.},
title = {{Diagnostic performance of digital cognitive tests for the identification of MCI and dementia: A systematic review}},
journal = {Ageing research reviews},
year = {2021},
doi = {10.1016/j.arr.2021.101506},
pmid = {34744026},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2021.101506}
}
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