title: Can a novel computerized cognitive screening test provide additional information for early detection of Alzheimer's disease?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Virtual reality testing of everyday activities is a novel type of computerized assessment that measures cognitive, executive, and motor performance as a screening tool for early dementia. This study used a virtual reality day-out task (VR-DOT) environment to evaluate its predictive value in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred thirty-four patients with MCI were selected and compared with 75 healthy control subjects. Participants received an initial assessment that included VR-DOT, a neuropsychological evaluation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, and event-related potentials (ERPs). After 12 months, participants were assessed again with MRI, ERP, VR-DOT, and neuropsychological tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of the study, we differentiated two subgroups of patients with MCI according to their clinical evolution from baseline to follow-up: 56 MCI progressors and 78 MCI nonprogressors. VR-DOT performance profiles correlated strongly with existing predictive biomarkers, especially the ERP and MRI biomarkers of cortical thickness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with ERP, MRI, or neuropsychological tests alone, the VR-DOT could provide additional predictive information in a low-cost, computerized, and noninvasive way.
authors.affiliation: Gerontechnology and Rehabilitation Group, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Clinical & Biological Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany. Electronic address: ioannis.tarnanas@artorg.unibe.ch.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tarnanas
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Neurology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Magda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsolaki
authors.affiliation: Gerontechnology and Rehabilitation Group, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nef
authors.affiliation: Gerontechnology and Rehabilitation Group, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Perception and Eye Movement Laboratory, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: M Müri
authors.affiliation: Gerontechnology and Rehabilitation Group, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Urs P
authors.initials: UP
authors.lastname: Mosimann
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D014584:User-Computer Interface
keywords: Computerized cognitive assessment; Computerized testing; Dementia; Early detection; Psychometrics