title: Scientific and ethical features of English-language online tests for Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Freely accessible online tests for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are widely available. The objective of this study was to evaluate these tests along three dimensions as follows: (1) scientific validity; (2) human-computer interaction (HCI) features; and (3) ethics features.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 16 online tests was identified through a keyword search. A rating grid for the tests was developed, and all tests were evaluated by two expert panels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expert analysis revealed that (1) the validity of freely accessible online tests for AD is insufficient to provide useful diagnostic information; (2) HCI features of the tests are adequate for target users, and (3) the tests do not adhere to accepted ethical norms for medical interventions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most urgent concerns raised center on the ethics of collecting and evaluating responses from users. Physicians and other professionals will benefit from a heightened awareness of these tools and their limitations today.
authors.affiliation: National Core for Neuroethics, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Julie M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Robillard
authors.affiliation: National Core for Neuroethics, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, UBC Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Illes
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arcand
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: B Lynn
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Beattie
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, UBC Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Sherri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hayden
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McGrenere
authors.affiliation: National Core for Neuroethics, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, UBC Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Peter B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Reiner
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wittenberg
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jacova
keywords: Aging; Alzheimer's disease; Diagnosis; Ethics; Online health; Online tests; Self-assessment