BrainCheck: Scientific Publications | Neurocognitive Testing

Scientific publications, research and studies

Digital Health

Feasibility and psychometric quality of smartphone administered cognitive ecological momentary assessments in women with metastatic breast cancer

January 3, 2025

Takeaways

Researchers confirmed BrainCheck Assess is as accurate as the widely-used Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), with equivalent cut-off scores showing strong agreement in classifying individuals’ cognitive status. These findings confirm BrainCheck Assess offers a reliable alternative to the MoCA, offering accuracy on par with traditional screening tools, along with the added convenience of a device-agnostic digital test that can be taken in-office or at home, making cognitive assessments convenient for both patients and clinicians.

Frontiers in Psychology

Comparing psychometric characteristics of a computerized cognitive test (BrainCheck Assess) against the Montreal cognitive assessment

September 3, 2024

Takeaways

Researchers confirmed BrainCheck Assess is as accurate as the widely-used Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), with equivalent cut-off scores showing strong agreement in classifying individuals’ cognitive status. These findings confirm BrainCheck Assess offers a reliable alternative to the MoCA, offering accuracy on par with traditional screening tools, along with the added convenience of a device-agnostic digital test that can be taken in-office or at home, making cognitive assessments convenient for both patients and clinicians.

Providers’ Experiences Implementing Cognitive Care Planning: Barriers and Facilitators

July 27, 2024

Takeaways

Researchers explored perspectives of primary care providers’ perceptions and experience of cognitive care planning with older adult patients and their loved ones and identified several implementation barriers and facilitators. Study findings provide critical insight into the care planning process, prompting the need for cognitive care planning tools integrated within the EMR, provider/patient/organization buy-in, and reassessing the current PCP practice model for older adults.

Identifying the Severity of Dementia Based on the Cognitive Performance and Index of Independence in Basic Activities of Daily Living

July 27, 2024

Takeaways

BrainCheck Assess was shown to be a good predictor of dementia severity, with ROC scores ranging from 0.73 to 0.92. Researchers also found when BrainCheck Assess is combined with the Activities of Daily Living (ADL), higher prediction accuracies are achieved.

Comparing Psychometric Characteristics of a Computerized Cognitive Test (BrainCheck-Assess) against the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)

July 27, 2024

Takeaways

Researchers found a high degree of agreement in impressions between BrainCheck Assess and MoCA, further validating BrainCheck’s standard battery and providing important guidance for providers familiar with the MoCA.

BrainCheck Screen Validation

July 9, 2024

Takeaways

Retrospective analysis of a clinical study involving 99 individuals, BrainCheck Screen correctly identified patients with cognitive impairment with 92% sensitivity and 74% specificity.
BrainCheck Screen’s high sensitivity ensures minimal missed impaired cases, making it an effective pre-screening tool.

Journal of Audiology & Otology

Cognitive Functions and Subjective Hearing in Cochlear Implant Users

April 30, 2024

Takeaways

This study examined cognitive function among cochlear implant (CI) users by utilizing BrainCheck to investigate the relationship between cognitive performance and subjective evaluation of hearing.
Compared to controls, CI users exhibited poorer cognitive function in all domains except immediate and delayed recognition.
This study concludes that BrainCheck online cognitive testing is a convenient and effective tool to self-evaluate cognitive function in CI users.

International Neuropsychological Society (INS), Neuropsychology Without Borders 2024 Meeting

Validation of BrainCheck’s Digit Symbol Substitution Task (DSST) in a Mixed Clinical Sample

February 15, 2024

Takeaways

The primary aim of this study was to establish the clinical validity of the digit symbol substitution task (DSST) of the BrainCheck battery in a mixed clinical sample to support its widespread use for clinical decision making.
Analyses showed that BrainCheck’s DSST exhibited good construct validity, including convergent and divergent validity, in a mixed clinical sample of patients referred for neuropsychological evaluation.
The advantages of the DSST over similar measures are a slightly shorter administration time (60 seconds) and ability to administer remotely.

Texas Alzheimer's Research and Care Consortium (TARCC) Scientific Symposium 2024

Barriers and Facilitators: Providers’ Experiences Implementing Cognitive Care Planning

February 8, 2024

Takeaways

Researchers conducted a qualitative study exploring providers’ perceptions and experiences implementing cognitive care planning in a sample of 8 primary care providers actively caring for older adults including patients with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD).
Preliminary results indicate several barriers and facilitators for implementing cognitive care planning into practice with providers reporting some familiarity with general cognitive care and assessment but lacking a clear systematic approach and thorough understanding of the cognitive care planning process.
A key study conclusion was that buy-in at multiple levels (patient, caregiver, organization, and clinical team) may prompt prioritizing this structured care approach in practice to restructure the assessment process for older adults.

Journal of Homosexuality

An Exploratory Analysis of Contributors to Cognitive Functioning Among Sexual and Gender Minority Individuals Who Had COVID-19

February 2, 2024

Takeaways

In this secondary analysis of a remote study, researchers examined associations between cognitive and psychosocial health and explored differences between these health outcomes among sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals and heterosexual cisgender adults who had COVID-19.
Findings demonstated that objective cognition was associated with age, SGM classification, racial or ethnic minority classification, income, comorbidities, COVID-19 severity, number of symptoms, and pain. Furthermore, subjective cognition was associated with comorbidities, number of symptoms, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, pain, and stress.

Geriatric Nursing

The Impact of Musical Reward Responses on Cognitive Function in Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes

December 5, 2023

Takeaways

This study investigated which factors of musical reward impact cognitive function in older adults with Type 2 Diabetes. A secondary data analysis was conducted with 185 older adults with Type 2 Diabetes and subjective cognitive decline.
The findings suggest that music interventions for older adults with Type 2 Diabetes may need to focus on managing their psychological states for the intervention to have beneficial effects on cognitive function.

Innovation in Aging

Implementation of BrainCheck for Cognitive Assessment and Care Planning in the Clinical Setting

November 8, 2023

Takeaways

Researchers conducted a quality improvement study to evaluated usage, reimbursement, and usability of implementing BrainCheck, a computerized tool for cognitive assessment (BC-Assess) and care planning (BC-Care).
Results demonstrated the great potential of BrainCheck for clinical use, as it can support providers in assessing the cognitive function of their patients in a timely and efficient manner.

Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease (CTAD) Annual Conference 2023

Identifying the Severity of Dementia Based on Cognitive Performance and Index of Independence in Basic Activities of Daily Living

October 24, 2023

Takeaways

This study examines: (1) the relationship between the composite score in a battery of BrainCheck cognitive assessments (BC-Assess) with the total scores of the Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living (ADL-ts) and Dementia Severity Rating Scale (DSRS-ts), and (2) the accuracy of using BC-Assess composite score (BC-cs) and ADL-ts to identify dementia stage delineated by DSRS-ts.
Among patients with dementia, performance in a cognitive assessment (BC-Assess) or in basic activities of daily living (ADL) is informative of severity diagnosis. However, consideration of both cognitive and functional measures generates highest accuracy.

Digital Health

Assessing Cancer-Related Cognitive Function in the Context of Everyday Life Using Ecological Mobile Cognitive Testing: A Protocol for a Prospective Quantitative Study

August 13, 2023

Takeaways

This publication presents the protocol for a study that aims to (1) establish the reliability and validity of ecological mobile cognitive testing to assess cancer-related cognitive impairment in breast cancer survivors, and (2) prospectively evaluate within-person processes (and interactions) among context, mood, and behavior that explain cognitive variability, everyday functioning, and quality of life of cancer survivors.

Surgery

Objectively Measured Cognitive Dysfunction in Patients with Primary Hyperparathyroidism Improves After Parathyroidectomy

August 8, 2023

Takeaways

A relationship between primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and decreased quality of life has been shown using patient-reported outcome measures, however, there remains a paucity of objectively measured data demonstrating cognitive dysfunction in patients with PHPT.
This research assessed whether parathyroidectomy resulted in quantifiable cognitive improvement.
Study results found that patients with PHPT experience objectively measurable cognitive changes associated with PHPT that can be reversed by parathyroidectomy, with improvements observed as early as 2 weeks after surgery.

PLOS One

The Role of Cognitive Rehabilitation in People with Type 2 Diabetes: A Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

May 15, 2023

Takeaways

Diabetes is related to accelerated cognitive aging, cognitive deficits are related to poorer self-management, and improvements in cognitive performance as a result of cognitive rehabilitation can translate into improved performance in everyday life and, potentially, diabetes self-management.
The results of the proposed study will therefore potentially inform strategies to support cognitive function and diabetes self-management, as well as offer new mechanistic insights into cognitive function through the use of continuous glucose monitoring.

Cancer Medicine

Remote Assessment of Cognitive Dysfunction in Hematologic Malignancies Using Web-Based Neuropsychological Testing

October 11, 2022

Takeaways

This research sought to examine cognitive functioning using BrainCheck, a web-based cognitive testing battery, to determine its ability to detect differences between patients with cancer and healthy controls.
Findings showed that compared to controls, the cancer group demonstrated significantly lower scores in objective and subjective cognitive function, physical functioning, and social role performance and elevated fatigue scores.
Study results provide evidence for the BrainCheck battery’s potential to detect differences in cognition between patients with cancer and healthy controls.

JMIR Aging

A Computerized Cognitive Test Battery for Detection of Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment: Instrument Validation Study

April 15, 2022

Takeaways

The aim of this study was to evaluate a computerized cognitive testing battery, BrainCheck, for its diagnostic accuracy and ability to distinguish the severity of cognitive impairment.
Analyses of the Overall BrainCheck Score show that classification between Normal Cognition, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Dementia can be obtained with high accuracy (88% or higher sensitivity and specificity for separating dementia from NC, and 77% or higher sensitivity and specificity in separating the MCI group from the NC and dementia groups), suggesting BrainCheck can be used as a reliable tool for early detection of cognitive impairment.

Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners

Describing Cognitive Function and Psychosocial Outcomes of COVID-19 Survivors: A cross-sectional analysis

March 1, 2022

Takeaways

The purpose of this study was to examine and characterize cognitive and related psychosocial symptoms in adults (21-75 years) who tested positive for or were treated as positive for COVID-19, with cognitive performance measured by the BrainCheck battery.
Findings demonstrated that cognitive dysfunction and psychological symptoms may be present in the weeks or months after COVID-19 diagnosis, even in those with mild to moderate illness severity.

Frontiers in Psychology

Cognitive Impairment in Non-Critical, Mild-to-Moderate COVID 19 Survivors

February 16, 2022

Takeaways

The aim of this study is to examine cognitive outcomes in cases of non-critical, mild-to-moderate COVID-19 by remotely administering cognitive-behavioral testing to determine the frequency of cognitive impairment and examine demographic, clinical, and psychosocial contributors to impairment.
Results found that the frequency of objective cognitive impairment was 40%. The largest number of participants (24%) showed impairment on a measure of executive functioning. Moderate COVID-19 severity was associated with attention/processing speed impairment (r = 0.27, p = 0.03), increased pain (r = 0.31, p = 0.01), and higher number of COVID-19 symptoms (r = 0.32, p = 0.01).

Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association

Early detection of Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment with BrainCheck

October 31, 2021

Takeaways

Study objective was to evaluate BrainCheck’s ability to distinguish between Dementia, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), and Normal Cognitive (NC) for the potential use of early dementia detection.
Findings showed significant differences between the NC, MCI and Dementia groups based on the participants’ BrainCheck battery performances, where participants with more severe cognitive impairment performed worse across the individual assessments and on BrainCheck Overall Scores.

Journal of Functional Foods

Consumption of Fresh Centella Asiatica Improves Short Term Alertness and Contentedness in Healthy Females

February 1, 2021

Takeaways

This study looks into the short-term effect of consuming fresh leaves of Centella asiatica on cognition and mood. Changes in different mood factors (alertness, calmness, contentedness) and cognitive functions, the latter of which were measured by the BrainCheck tests, were compared between three treatments (high dose vs. low dose vs. none of C. asiatica).
Results demonstrated significant improvements with higher concentration of C. asiatica for alertness and contentedness factors but not for cognitive functions.

medRxiv

Validation of Remote Testing using BrainCheck, a Computerized Neurocognitive Test

June 3, 2020

Takeaways

The primary aim of this analysis was to assess the BrainCheck battery across all administration platforms and interactions to observe any differences in assessment performance and establish the clinical efficacy of remote testing and self-administration.
In conclusion, the study results of 75 participants scores demonstrated that BrainCheck may be a robust, self-administered computerized neurocognitive testing solution with an appropriate adjustment for the platform used.

medRxiv

Use of Computerized Neurocognitive Assessment Software for the Detection of Alcohol Intoxication

May 29, 2020

Takeaways

The purpose of this study was to explore the use of the BrainCheck battery to assess levels of alcohol impairment.
Using logistic regression models to classify intoxication, results from the best model demonstrated an 80.6% accuracy, 73.3% sensitivity, and 75.0% specificity for BrainCheck’s ability to detect intoxication.
In conclusion, BrainCheck may provides another option to assess cognitive impairment due to alcohol, with the utility of being portable and available on a smartphone.

medRxiv

Validity of Computer Based Administration of Cognitive Assessments compared to Traditional Paper-Based Administration

May 16, 2020

Takeaways

A comparative analysis of the BrainCheck assessment, a computer-based NPT battery, to traditional paper-based NPT’s, by evaluating individual tests as well as comparing composite scores to scores on traditional screening tools.
Analysis results showed that the BrainCheck composite score was correlated to the SLUMS exam, the MMSE, and the MoCA, concluding that BrainCheck may offer a computer-based avenue to address the gap between basic screening and formal neuropsychological testing.

JMIR Publications

A Rapid, Mobile Neurocognitive Screening Test to Aid in Identifying Cognitive Impairment and Dementia (BrainCheck): Cohort Study

March 21, 2019

Takeaways

This study aimed to determine the accuracy and validity of BrainCheck Memory as a diagnostic aid for age-related cognitive impairment, as compared against physician diagnosis and other commonly used neurocognitive screening tests.
Findings demonstrated BrainCheck’s concurrent validity to both the SLUMS exam and physician diagnossis with the BrainCheck composite score generating a high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity to both modalities.

Innovation in Aging

BrainCheck Shows Improved Clinical and Cost Outcomes in Multi-Arm Randomized Controlled Trial

November 16, 2018

Takeaways

Researchers at Mount Sinai developed a decision-analytic model to estimate the comparitive cost-effectiveness of BrainCheck to standard care in both a community setting and a skilled living facility.
Base-case analyses found that adopting BrainCheck delivered more quality-adjusted life years for patients over their lifetime and was substantially more cost-effective than standard care.

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