In-clinic validation of a smartphone-based finger tapping test for use in neurodegenerative and neurological populations
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Motor disturbances are common in neurologic and neurodegenerative syndromes. A standard motor speed and dexterity measure is the finger tapping test (FTT). The FTT has traditionally been administered in clinic using a mechanical FTT, limiting accessibility and early motor change quantification. This study assessed the validity of a smartphone app-based FTT, which may expand access and enable more frequent testing. Methods: The cohort was diagnostically diverse, including participants with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal syndrome, primary progressive aphasia, multiple sclerosis, and clinically unimpaired controls. Participants completed a 20-second ALLFTD Mobile App (mApp)-FTT with each hand. Tapping speed metrics were extracted. Participants completed the gold-standard mechanical FTT, a neurologist-administered finger tapping exam, the PSP Rating Scale (PSPRS) and the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Correlations assessed mApp-FTT and mechanical FTT relationships; regressions evaluated associations with neurologist-rated finger tapping impairment, PSPRS and UPDRS, adjusting for age and sex. Results: The mApp-FTT showed moderate-to-strong correlations with the mechanical FTT (dominant: r=0.63, p<0.001; non-dominant: r=0.55, p<0.001). Taps per second were associated with PSPRS motor severity (dominant hand: std. β=-0.59, 95% CI [-0.91, -0.27], p<0.001) and the UPDRS (dominant hand: std. β=-0.41, 95% CI [-0.82, 0.00], p=0.049). Flight time was modestly associated with neurologist-rated finger tapping impairment (dominant hand: std. β=0.15, 95% CI [0.00, 0.29], p=0.044). Conclusion: These findings support mApp-FTT validity as a measure of motor function across neurodegenerative conditions. Validation in longitudinal and unsupervised remote settings is warranted to understand scalability and evaluate change over time.
Source: medRxiv
Authors: Morgan O’Connor, Mark E. Sanderson-Cimino, Zi Li, Sreya Dhanam, Anjali Sadarangani, Joshua Downer, Ray Fregly, Jack Taylor, Amy B. Wise, Kaitlin B. Casaletto, Leah K. Forsberg, Maria Luisa Gorno-Tempini, Hilary W. Heuer, Joel H. Kramer, John Kornak, Bruce Miller, Emily W. Paolillo, Riley Bove, Gil Rabinovici, William W. Seeley, Brad F Boeve, Howard J. Rosen, Adam L Boxer, Adam M. Staffaroni
Institutions: University of California, San Francisco, Mayo Clinic
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: G1253688923, G1537297659, G2663712431, Effects of chronic inflammation on brain structure and function, G3603874756, Optimizing Clinical Trial Endpoints in Frontotemporal Dementia, G461021441, G6160646532, G6570754590, G7282017350, Novel Imaging and Biofluid Biomarkers of Small Vessel Cerebrovascular Disease, G89556848, ARTFL LEFFTDS Longitudinal Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration, Cycle 2 (ALLFTD2), Validating remote digital assessments for familial frontotemporal dementia, Passive digital phenotyping for capturing real-world neurobehavior in neurodegenerative disease, New Approaches to Dementia Heterogeneity, Biological predictors of brain aging trajectories, Unraveling the intersection of synaptic biology, lifestyle, and cognitive resilience
OpenAlex ID: W7167628201