Development and validity of the Computer‐Based Cognitive Assessment Tool for intervention in community‐dwelling older individuals

AIM: The Mini‐Mental State Examination is a widely used cognitive assessment tool. However, it has several limitations, including the learning effect and interrater reliability. Therefore, we developed a Computer‐Based Cognitive Assessment Tool (CompBased‐CAT), which runs on a tablet or personal computer. In this study, we examined the validity and discrimination ability of the CompBased‐CAT. METHODS: Participants were recruited from the Otasha‐Kenshin study carried out in 2016. We included 773 community‐dwelling older individuals in Japan (332 men, 441 women, aged 65–97 years). CompBased‐CAT scores were converted to z‐scores, and the correlation with Mini‐Mental State Examination scores was examined using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Furthermore, the ability to discern cognitive impairment was examined using the receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS: The Pearson's correlation coefficient for the Mini‐Mental State Examination scores and each task component of the CompBased‐CAT ranged from 0.24 to 0.41 (P < 0.001), and the correlation coefficient of the total z‐scores was 0.51 (P < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the discriminating ability of the CompBased‐CATool for cognitive impairment were 0.81, 0.77 and 0.85, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The CompBased‐CAT certainly possesses validity, discriminating ability and utility as a new cognitive assessment tool in community‐dwelling older individuals. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; ••: ••–••.