Validation of a digitally delivered visual paired comparison task: reliability and convergent validity with established cognitive tests.

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects the memory and cognitive function of approximately 5.7 million Americans. Early detection subsequently allows for earlier treatment and improves outcomes. Currently, there exists a validated 30-min eye-tracking cognitive assessment (VPC-30) for predicting AD risk. However, a shorter assessment would improve user experience and improve scalability. Thus, the purposes were to (1) determine convergent validity between the 5-min web camera-based eye-tracking task (VPC-5) and VPC-30, (2) examine the relationship between VPC-5 and gold-standard cognitive tests, and (3) determine the reliability and stability of VPC-5. This prospective study included two healthy cohorts: older adults (65+ years, n = 20) and younger adults (18-46years, n = 24). Participants were tested on two separate occasions. Visit 1 included the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Digit Symbol Coding test (DSC), NIH Toolbox Cognitive Battery (NIHTB-CB), VPC-30, and VPC-5. Visit 2 occurred at least 14days later; participants completed the VPC-5, DSC, NIHTB-CB, and dual-task walking assessments (DT). VPC-30 significantly correlated with VPC-5 at the first (p < .001) and second (p = .001) time points. VPC-5 and DSC (p < .01) and Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test (PSPAC) (p = .01) were also correlated on day 1. Significant associations existed between VPC-5 and DSC (p < .001), Flanker Inhibitory Control Test (p = .05), PSPAC (p < .001), and Picture Sequence Memory Test (p = .02) during day 14 testing session. The test retest reliability of VPC-5 was significant (p < .001). VPC-5 displayed moderate convergent validity with the VPC-30 and gold-standard measures of cognition, while demonstrating strong stability, suggesting it is a valuable assessment for monitoring memory function.