ELECTRONIC DEVICES FOR COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT SCREENING: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW.

OBJECTIVES: The reduction in cognitive decline depends on timely diagnosis. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the current available information and communication technologies-based instruments for cognitive decline early screening and detection in terms of usability, validity, and reliability. METHODS: Electronic searches identified 1,785 articles of which thirty-four met the inclusion criteria and were grouped according to their main purpose into test batteries, measures of isolated tasks, behavioral measures, and diagnostic tools. RESULTS: Thirty one instruments were analyzed. Fifty-two percent were personal computer based, 26 percent tablet, 13 percent laptop, and 1 was mobile phone based. The most common input method was touchscreen (48 percent). The instruments were validated with a total of 4,307 participants: 2,146 were healthy older adults (M = 73.59; SD = 5.12), 1,104 had dementia (M = 74.65; SD = 3.98) and 1,057 mild cognitive impairment (M = 74.84; SD = 4.46). Only 6 percent were administered at home, 19 percent reported outcomes about usability, and 22 percent about understandability. The methodological quality of the studies was good, the weakest methodological area being usability. Most of the instruments obtained acceptable values of specificity and sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to create home delivered instruments and to include usability studies in their design. Involvement of people with cognitive decline in all phases of the development process is of great importance to obtain valuable and user-friendly products. It would be advisable for researchers to make an effort to provide cutoff points for their instruments.

Rehabilitación del reconocimiento de emociones combinada con estimulación cognitiva para personas con enfermedad de Alzheimer. Eficacia sobre aspectos cognitivos y funcionales / Emotion recognition rehabilitation combined with cognitive stimulation for people with Alzheimer’s disease. Efficacy for cognition and functional aspects

Introducción. Se han encontrado déficits en el reconocimiento de emociones en personas con enfermedad de Alzheimer (EA), pero no se ha informado de ningún tratamiento rehabilitador de esta capacidad en esta población. Objetivo. Evaluar la eficacia de un tratamiento combinado de rehabilitación del reconocimiento de emociones (RRE) y estimulación cognitiva (EsC) sobre las funciones cognitivas, el estado de ánimo, la anosognosia, la capacidad funcional y el reconocimiento de emociones de personas con EA. Sujetos y métodos. En un diseño cuasi experimental, 36 pacientes con EA fueron asignados a tres condiciones: un grupo experimental, que recibió 20 sesiones de RRE y 20 sesiones de EsC; un grupo control, que recibió 40 sesiones de EsC, y un grupo que recibió tratamiento usual (GTU). Resultados. Completaron el estudio 32 pacientes, con una edad media de 77,53 ± 5,43 años. Se observó mejoría en el Minimental State Examination en su versión de 30 ítems (F = 5,10; p = 0,013) y en la de 35 (F = 4,16; p = 0,026), reconocimiento de afectos (Z = -2,81; p = 0,005) y actividades básicas de la vida diaria (Z = -2,27; p = 0,018) a favor del grupo experimental. El grupo que recibió tratamiento usual empeoró en depresión (Z = -1,99; p = 0,048), apatía (Z = -2,30; p = 0,022) y anosognosia (Z = -2,19; p = 0,028). Conclusiones. El tratamiento combinado de RRE y EsC fue más eficaz que la EsC y que el tratamiento usual. Es la primera vez que se informa de un tratamiento rehabilitador del reconocimiento de emociones en personas con EA (AU)

Introduction. The ability to recognize facial emotional expression is essential for social interactions and adapting to the environment. Emotion recognition is impaired in people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), thus rehabilitation of these skills has the potential to elicit significant benefits. Aim. To assess the efficacy of a combined treatment of rehabilitation of emotion recognition (RER) and cognitive stimulation (CS) for people with AD, due to its potential implications for more effective psychosocial interventions. Subjects and methods. 36 patients were assigned to one of three experimental conditions: an experimental group (EG) that received 20 sessions of RER and 20 sessions of CS; a control group (CG) that received 40 sessions of CS, and a treatment as usual group (TAU). Results. 32 patients completed the treatment (77.53 ± 5.43 years). Significant differences were found in MMSE30 (F = 5.10; p = 0.013), MMSE35 (F = 4.16; p = 0.026), affect recognition (Z = -2.81; p = 0.005) and basic activities of daily living (Z = -2.27; p = 0.018) favouring the efficacy of the combined treatment. The TAU group showed a decline in depression (Z = -1.99; p = 0.048), apathy (Z = -2.30; p = 0.022) and anosognosia (Z = -2.19; p = 0.028). Conclusions. The combined treatment of RER + CS was more effective than TAU and CS alone for the treatment of patients with AD. This is the first study about the rehabilitation of affect recognition in AD (AU)