What is it about?
Background: Testing memory and thinking skills is important for diagnosing conditions like dementia and Alzheimer's disease, especially in primary health care settings. In low- and middle-income countries, where the elderly population is growing rapidly, there is a need for simple, culturally relevant, and reliable tests. Objective: This study looked at how practical and effective a tablet-based memory and thinking skills test is for older adults in southeast Nigeria, and what factors affect how well people perform on the test. Methods: We conducted a study using both numbers and participant feedback to evaluate the test’s ease of use and performance. Results: A total of 207 participants, averaging 64.7 years of age, took part, with 52% having only primary education, 41% secondary education, and 7% tertiary education. Most participants (91%) were able to complete the test, which took 10–15 minutes. People with more years of education scored better on all parts of the test. Surprisingly, people from rural areas performed better than those in urban areas. Gender did not affect performance. Conclusions: Tablet-based memory and thinking tests were effective in both rural and urban areas of Nigeria. Higher scores were linked to more education and living in rural areas, but not to gender. These digital tools show promise for use in healthcare and education, especially in places with different levels of urbanization and access to education
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Why is it important?
This study is important because it addresses the urgent need for simple, culturally appropriate cognitive assessment tools in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where dementia and Alzheimer's disease are on the rise due to aging populations. It highlights how a tablet-based cognitive test can be successfully used in both rural and urban settings, making it a valuable tool for primary healthcare. By showing that such a tool is feasible and effective, especially in areas with limited access to traditional health resources, the study opens the door to early detection of cognitive decline, improving healthcare access and outcomes for elderly populations in underserved regions
Perspectives
From my own perspective, this publication offers a significant step forward in addressing the cognitive health needs of elderly populations in underserved areas. By demonstrating the feasibility of a tablet-based cognitive tool in both rural and urban settings, it underscores the potential of digital health solutions to bridge gaps in healthcare access. The study also reveals intriguing findings, such as the better performance of rural participants, which challenges assumptions about healthcare delivery in remote areas. This work paves the way for further innovation in low-resource settings, where early dementia diagnosis and intervention are critically needed
Chukwuanugo Ogbuagu
Nnamdi Azikiwe University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Feasibility and Determinants of Performance for a Tablet-Based Cognitive Assessment Tool in Rural and Urban Southeast Nigeria, Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, August 2024, IOS Press,
DOI: 10.3233/jad-240518.
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