Assessing Cognition Remotely: Expanding the Reach of Cognitive Testing for Older Adults at Risk for Dementia in a Randomized Controlled Trial

Little is known about whether cognitive assessments can be completed remotely by older adults at risk for dementia, and there is no consensus on which tool is best. The SYNchronising Exercises, Remedies in GaIt and Cognition at Home (SYNERGIC@Home) study evaluated the feasibility of a home-based, double-blind, randomized-controlled trial to improve gait and cognition in individuals at risk for dementia. This paper reports a secondary analytic outcome of the cognitive tests used. The three aims were: 1) to examine whether the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA 8.1 Audiovisual), Cognitive-Functional Composite2 (CFC2), and Telephone Cognitive Screen (T-CogS) could be administered remotely; 2) to compare each tool; 3) to evaluate changes in cognition following the intervention. Sixty participants were randomized to one of four physical/cognitive exercise intervention arms, with 52 participants completing the intervention. Cognitive tests were done in the homes of participants via Zoom for Healthcare™. All 52 participants completed the assessments. The interquartile range (IQR) for the MoCA was 4, the CFC2 was 8, and the T-CogS was 1. At baseline, 11.5% scored perfectly on the MoCA, 0% scored perfectly on the CFC2, and 62% scored perfectly on the T-CogS. Scores on the MoCA (<i>p</i>=.076), CFC2 (<i>p</i>=.053), and T-CogS (<i>p</i>=.281) were not statistically significantly different from baseline to post-intervention. This study demonstrates that these cognitive tests can be administered remotely, with the MoCA and the CFC2 being the most sensitive to variability in scores.