Design and application of a game‐based WeChat mini‐program for screening cognitive impairments in Chinese older adults

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundEarly screening for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the key method to prevent and delay dementia. Digital screening tools are more efficient than traditional paper‐and‐pencil cognitive assessments, and gamified versions would promote engagement and completion rates. We introduced here the design and development of the Game‐based Cognitive Assessment ‐ 3 Minute Version (G3) WeChat mini‐program for MCI screening in Chinese older adults.MethodG3 is a battery of three one‐minute digital games built within the WeChat platform. Developed based on the cognitive paradigm and classic neuropsychological tests such as Trail Making Test (TMT), the Silhouettes test, the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test‐Revised (BVMT‐R) test, and California Card Sorting Tests (CCST), the G3 mini‐games, “Number Ordering”, “Species Sorting”, and “Gold finding” would measure the computational and executive function, abstractive function and visual perception, memory, and attention, respectively. In each game, the difficulty will be automatically adjusted according to performance. G3 integrates users’ game scores, age, gender, and education levels, to generate a comprehensive assessment of cognitive function with results of the six cognitive domains (Figure 2).ResultAs of August 31, 2022, more than 11 million users have completed G3 tests, 85.38% of them are aged under 40, and 2.05% of them are aged over 60 (Figure 3). Although people in all age groups have desired to know their cognitive function, the number of users decreased as people aged. Among users aged 40‐70, more females than males participated in G3 games, indicating middle‐aged and older women paid more attention to cognitive function. Among users over 45 years old, those of lower education levels (primary school or no education), middle levels (middle or high school), and university degrees accounted for 2.93%, 32.4%, and 59.65% respectively. The completion rate of users aged over 45 is 92.28%, and those over 80 years exceeded 86%.ConclusionThe G3 was a battery of three novel 1‐minute game‐based digital cognitive tests. The process is simple, efficient, and interesting. It is a promising tool for self‐administering, advancing large‐scale community screening, and social education for MCI in Chinese older adults, warranting further clinical trials to validate its feasibility, sensitivity, and diagnostic value.