Virtual Cognitive Assessment in Older Adults: A Pilot Study on its Validity

Gonzalez Aguilar MJ and Seggiaro J

Published on: 2023-02-25

Abstract

Neurocognitive assessment is a process that consists of administrating objective techniques that can measure different cognitive domains. Aging provokes multiple cerebral and cognitive changes, and neurocognitive assessment is an essential tool to detect and monitor them. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant growth in the demand for telemedicine services, including Teleneuropsychology (TNP). TNP consists of the administration of classic neurocognitive tests but held remotely, using video-teleconference techniques in most cases. TNP’s validity in younger adults is already being studied, but considering the challenges that internet and technology manipulation may represent for older adults, one question arises: will there be differences between a face-to-face neurocognitive assessment (FTF) and a virtual neuropsychological assessment (TNP) in older adults? This study aimed to compare FTF with TNP neuropsychological assessment in adults over the age of 60. To achieve this, a pilot study was conducted following a cross-sectional correlational design. A sample of 32 healthy older adults between the ages of 60 and 85 was assessed with the same neurocognitive battery in two different moments (FTF and TNP), with a minimum of 5 weeks in between each assessment. Correlations and differences between both instances were studied. Results show that there were no significant differences between FTF and TNP, and the tests applied in a TNP and a FTF context evidenced a positive significant correlation. These results add evidence for TNP validity, as a virtual approach strengthens as a valid instrument to perform neurocognitive assessments remotely.