Home › Research › Digital health tools
Digital Cognitive Biomarker for Mild Cognitive Impairments and Dementia: A Systematic Review
Ding Z, Lee TL, Chan AS.. Journal of clinical medicine, 2022-07-19
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
The dementia population is increasing as the world's population is growing older. The current systematic review aims to identify digital cognitive biomarkers from computerized tests for detecting dementia and its risk state of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and to evaluate the diagnostic performance of digital cognitive biomarkers. A literature search was performed in three databases, and supplemented by a Google search for names of previously identified computerized tests. Computerized tests were categorized into five types, including memory tests, test batteries, other single/multiple cognitive tests, handwriting/drawing tests, and daily living tasks and serious games. Results showed that 78 studies were eligible. Around 90% of the included studies were rated as high quality based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Most of the digital cognitive biomarkers achieved comparable or even better diagnostic performance than traditional paper-and-pencil tests. Moderate to large group differences were consistently observed in cognitive outcomes related to memory and executive functions, as well as some novel outcomes measured by handwriting/drawing tests, daily living tasks, and serious games. These outcomes have the potential to be sensitive digital cognitive biomarkers for MCI and dementia. Therefore, digital cognitive biomarkers can be a sensitive and promising clinical tool for detecting MCI and dementia.
Key findings
- Results showed that 78 studies were eligible.
Why it matters
This systematic review of 78 studies found that most digital cognitive biomarkers from computerized tests achieved comparable or better diagnostic performance than traditional paper-and-pencil tests for mild cognitive impairment and dementia. These tools may help detect these conditions, but they do not provide a treatment, cure or prevention.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Digital health →
Study details
- Study designsystematic review
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 60/100
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 (Journal of clinical medicine) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of Clinical Medicine: journal h-index 188 (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 | 2022 — 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 72 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 12.0 citations a year over 6 year(s) since 2022 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 61 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Agnes Sui-Yin Chan: h-index 50 (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 35887956) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 60 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.3390/jcm11144191
- PubMed: 35887956
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Clinical Medicine →
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
Ding, Z., Lee, T. L., & Chan, A. S. (2022). Digital Cognitive Biomarker for Mild Cognitive Impairments and Dementia: A Systematic Review. Journal of clinical medicine. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11144191
Vancouver
Ding Z, Lee TL, Chan AS. Digital Cognitive Biomarker for Mild Cognitive Impairments and Dementia: A Systematic Review. Journal of clinical medicine. 2022. doi:10.3390/jcm11144191. PMID: 35887956.
BibTeX
@article{ding2022-35887956,
author = {Ding, Z. and Lee, T. L. and Chan, A. S.},
title = {{Digital Cognitive Biomarker for Mild Cognitive Impairments and Dementia: A Systematic Review}},
journal = {Journal of clinical medicine},
year = {2022},
doi = {10.3390/jcm11144191},
pmid = {35887956},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11144191}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here. Showing 12 of 17.
Later studies that cite this one
2 studies in the alzhub library list this one in their references.
Related studies in Digital health tools
Also tagged “assessment”
840 studies in the library carry the topic tag “assessment”; these are this study's neighbours in a fixed, alphabetical-by-hash tour of them, not the closest in content. All 840 tagged studies.