A COMPUTERIZED TESTING SYSTEM FOR SCREENING DEMENTIA IN COMMUNITY-BASED SETTINGS

We have developed a computerized testing system for screening dementia in community-based settings. The system was assembled with a touch-panel display and computer devices unified into one case. This made the hardware a very compact, light and easy to carry unit. Two test programs were implemented in the system, one for primary screening and the other for close examination. The primary screening program, which was intended to screen persons who are suspected of having dementia in community-based settings, consisted of 4 test tasks. The close examination program was designed to diagnose the dementia and was composed of 10 test tasks. Throughout the whole process, users were guided not only by text prompts but also by voice instructions. In the test process, the system presents questions by text, figures and/or voice. Then the system shows the choice icons on the computer display and requires the subject to touch the correct icon. By this method, even aged persons could easily operate the system. Results of the primary screening program yielded maximum sensitivity and specificity values of 96% and 86% for the total score, respectively. By applying this system to community-based settings, we have detected 55 persons as mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 74 persons as suspicious of suffering from dementia out of 998 elderly residents.