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Online46: Online cognitive assessments in elderly cohorts—The British 1946 birth cohort case study

Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Online assessments are scalable and cost effective for detecting cognitive changes, especially in elderly cohorts with limited mobility and higher vulnerability to neurological conditions. However, determining the uptake, adherence, and usability of these assessments in older adults, who may have less experience with mobile devices, is crucial. METHODS: A total of 1776 members (aged 77) of the Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD) were invited to complete 13 online cognitive tasks. Adherence was measured through task compliance, while uptake (consent, attempt, completion) was linked to health and sociodemographic factors. Usability was evaluated through qualitative feedback. RESULTS: This study's consent (56.9%), attempt (80.5%), and completion (88.8%) rates are comparable to supervised NSHD substudies. Significant predictors of uptake included education, sex, handedness, cognitive scores, weight, smoking, alcohol consumption, and disease burden. DISCUSSION: With key recommendations followed, online cognitive assessments are feasible, with good adherence and usability in older adults. Highlights: Online cognitive tasks have good uptake, adherence, and usability in older adults.Education, previous cognitive scores, and alcohol consumption predict consent.Alcohol consumption and weight are related to attempting an assessment.Sex, smoking, and disease burden are associated with completion.Protocol challenges and recommendations are identified through qualitative analysis.
DOI: 10.1002/dad2.70098
Authors: Ziyuan Cai, Valentina Giunchiglia, Rebecca Street, Martina Del Giovane, Kirsty Lu, Maria Popham, Andrew Wong, Heidi Murray‐Smith, Marcus Richards, Sebastian Crutch, Peter J. Hellyer, Jonathan M. Schott, Adam Hampshire
Institutions: King's College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, Harvard University, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, University of Surrey, UK Dementia Research Institute, MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,540
Funders: Alzheimer's Association, Brain Research Trust, Imperial College London, King's College London, University College London, Wolfson Foundation, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Dementias Platform UK, California State University, Bakersfield, Medical Research Council, Menzies Centre for Australian Studies, King's College London, University of London, UCLH Biomedical Research Centre
Awards: G1234573687, G326952363, G3563016848, Cohorts and data collection, Mental Ageing, G4460090701, G4751297025, G5868949935, DTP Bid Led by Imperial College London, G7174718964, G7585982372, G7697514025, G8486820766, G942021869
OpenAlex ID: W4411191494
FWCI: 3.074
Cites: 53
Cited by: 5
Related to: 10