Computer mouse movement patterns: A potential marker of mild cognitive impairment

AbstractIntroductionSubtle changes in cognitively demanding activities occur in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) but are difficult to assess with conventional methods. In an exploratory study, we examined whether patterns of computer mouse movements obtained from routine home computer use discriminated between older adults with and without MCI.MethodsParticipants were 42 cognitively intact and 20 older adults with MCI enrolled in a longitudinal study of in-home monitoring technologies. Mouse pointer movement variables were computed during one week of routine home computer use using algorithms that identified and characterized mouse movements within each computer use session.ResultsMCI was associated with making significantly fewer total mouse moves (P < .01) and making mouse movements that were more variable, less efficient, and with longer pauses between movements (P < .05). Mouse movement measures were significantly associated with several cognitive domains (P values <.01–.05).DiscussionRemotely monitored computer mouse movement patterns are a potential early marker of real-world cognitive changes in MCI

Characteristics Associated with Willingness to Participate in a Randomized Controlled Behavioral Clinical Trial Using Home-Based Personal Computers and a Webcam

BACKGROUND: Trials aimed at preventing cognitive decline through cognitive stimulation among those with normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment are of significant importance in delaying the onset of dementia and reducing dementia prevalence. One challenge in these prevention trials is sample recruitment bias. Those willing to volunteer for these trials could be socially active, in relatively good health, and have high educational levels and cognitive function. These participants\u27 characteristics could reduce the generalizability of study results and, more importantly, mask trial effects. We developed a randomized controlled trial to examine whether conversation-based cognitive stimulation delivered through personal computers, a webcam and the internet would have a positive effect on cognitive function among older adults with normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment. To examine the selectivity of samples, we conducted a mass mail-in survey distribution among community-dwelling older adults, assessing factors associated with a willingness to participate in the trial. METHODS: Two thousand mail-in surveys were distributed to retirement communities in order to collect data on demographics, the nature and frequency of social activities, personal computer use and additional health-related variables, and interest in the prevention study. We also asked for their contact information if they were interested in being contacted as potential participants in the trial. RESULTS: Of 1,102 surveys returned (55.1% response rate), 983 surveys had complete data for all the variables of interest. Among them, 309 showed interest in the study and provided their contact information (operationally defined as the committed with interest group), 74 provided contact information without interest in the study (committed without interest group), 66 showed interest, but provided no contact information (interest only group), and 534 showed no interest and provided no contact information (no interest group). Compared with the no interest group, the committed with interest group were more likely to be personal computer users (odds ratio (OR) = 2.78), physically active (OR = 1.03) and had higher levels of loneliness (OR = 1.16). CONCLUSION: Increasing potential participants\u27 familiarity with a personal computer and the internet before trial recruitment could increase participation rates and improve the generalizability of future studies of this type. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered on 29 March 2012 at ClinicalTirals.gov (ID number NCT01571427)

Characteristics associated with willingness to participate in a randomized controlled behavioral clinical trial using home-based personal computers and a webcam

Abstract Background Trials aimed at preventing cognitive decline through cognitive stimulation among those with normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment are of significant importance in delaying the onset of dementia and reducing dementia prevalence. One challenge in these prevention trials is sample recruitment bias. Those willing to volunteer for these trials could be socially active, in relatively good health, and have high educational levels and cognitive function. These participants’ characteristics could reduce the generalizability of study results and, more importantly, mask trial effects. We developed a randomized controlled trial to examine whether conversation-based cognitive stimulation delivered through personal computers, a webcam and the internet would have a positive effect on cognitive function among older adults with normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment. To examine the selectivity of samples, we conducted a mass mail-in survey distribution among community-dwelling older adults, assessing factors associated with a willingness to participate in the trial. Methods Two thousand mail-in surveys were distributed to retirement communities in order to collect data on demographics, the nature and frequency of social activities, personal computer use and additional health-related variables, and interest in the prevention study. We also asked for their contact information if they were interested in being contacted as potential participants in the trial. Results Of 1,102 surveys returned (55.1% response rate), 983 surveys had complete data for all the variables of interest. Among them, 309 showed interest in the study and provided their contact information (operationally defined as the committed with interest group), 74 provided contact information without interest in the study (committed without interest group), 66 showed interest, but provided no contact information (interest only group), and 534 showed no interest and provided no contact information (no interest group). Compared with the no interest group, the committed with interest group were more likely to be personal computer users (odds ratio (OR) = 2.78), physically active (OR = 1.03) and had higher levels of loneliness (OR = 1.16). Conclusion Increasing potential participants’ familiarity with a personal computer and the internet before trial recruitment could increase participation rates and improve the generalizability of future studies of this type. Trial registration The trial was registered on 29 March 2012 at ClinicalTirals.gov (ID number NCT01571427 ).http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/111291/1/13063_2013_Article_2385.pd

Weekly observations of online survey metadata obtained through home computer use allow for detection of changes in everyday cognition before transition to mild cognitive impairment

IntroductionSubtle changes in instrumental activities of daily living often accompany the onset of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) but are difficult to measure using conventional tests.MethodsWeekly online survey metadata metrics, annual neuropsychological tests, and an instrumental activity of daily living questionnaire were examined in 110 healthy older adults with intact cognition (mean age = 85 years) followed up for up to 3.6 years; 29 transitioned to MCI during study follow‐up.ResultsIn the baseline period, incident MCI participants completed their weekly surveys 1.4 hours later in the day than stable cognitively intact participants, P = .03, d = 0.47. Significant associations were found between earlier survey start time of day and higher memory (r = −0.34; P < .001) and visuospatial test scores (r = −0.37; P < .0001). Longitudinally, incident MCI participants showed an increase in survey completion time by 3 seconds per month for more than the year before diagnosis compared with stable cognitively intact participants (β = 0.12, SE = 0.04, t = 2.8; P = .006).DiscussionWeekly online survey metadata allowed for detection of changes in everyday cognition before transition to MCI.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/152601/1/alzjjalz201707756.pd

P3‐164: Less daily computer use is related to smaller hippocampal volumes in dementia‐free elderly

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/152632/1/alzjjalz2015061535.pd

Utilization of Upper Endoscopy for Surveillance of Gastric Ulcers in the United States

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73657/1/j.1572-0241.2008.01945.x.pd

Risk of Incident Clinical Diagnosis of Alzheimer\u27s Disease-Type Dementia Attributable to Pathology-Confirmed Vascular Disease

INTRODUCTION: The presence of cerebrovascular pathology may increase the risk of clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD). METHODS: We examined excess risk of incident clinical diagnosis of AD (probable and possible AD) posed by the presence of lacunes and large infarcts beyond AD pathology using data from the Statistical Modeling of Aging and Risk of Transition study, a consortium of longitudinal cohort studies with more than 2000 autopsies. We created six mutually exclusive pathology patterns combining three levels of AD pathology (low, moderate, or high AD pathology) and two levels of vascular pathology (without lacunes and large infarcts or with lacunes and/or large infarcts). RESULTS: The coexistence of lacunes and large infarcts results in higher likelihood of clinical diagnosis of AD only when AD pathology burden is low. DISCUSSION: Our results reinforce the diagnostic importance of AD pathology in clinical AD. Further harmonization of assessment approaches for vascular pathologies is required

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☯ These authors contributed equally to this work