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Panzavolta A, Cerami C, Caffarra P, De Vita D, Dodich A, Fonti C, L'Abbate F, Laganà V, Lavorgna L, Marra C, Papagno C, Pellegrini FF, Stracciari A, Trojano L, Iaquinta T, Ravizza A, Sternini F, Pandolfi R, Sanzone S, Calore M, Cappa SF. A digital teleneuropsychology platform for the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment: from concept to certification as a medical device. Neurol Sci 2024; 45:3125-3135. [PMID: 38378904 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-024-07403-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Innovative digital solutions are shaping a new concept of dementia care, opening additional venues for prevention, diagnosis, monitoring and treatment. Hereby, we report the development of a tablet-based teleneuropsychology platform (Tenèpsia®), from concept to certification as Medical Device (MD) Class IIA, as per new MD regulation 745/2017. METHODS The platform was designed for the remote cognitive evaluation and created thanks to the effort of a collaborative working group including experts from three Italian scientific societies and Biogen Italia S.r.l. (hereafter "Biogen"), and developers from Xenia Reply and Inside AI. The development strategy was guided by converting traditional paper-and-pencil tests into digital versions while maintaining comparable neuropsychological features and optimizing patient accessibility and user experience. The experts focused on the choice and adaptation of traditional neuropsychology measures for a 45-min teleneuropsychology assessment. RESULTS The developers created a web and a mobile interface, respectively, for the professional (neuropsychologist) and non-professional (patient and caregiver) use. Recording of voice, drawing and typing information was enabled. Instant dashboards provide a quick overview of the patient's condition. Simulation activities were performed to obtain MD certification, valid across Europe. CONCLUSION Neuropsychology services will benefit from the implementation in clinics of harmonized digital tools with adequate scientific and technological standards. The use of digital cognitive testing for the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment is expected to enhance patient and clinician outcomes through simplified, digital objective data collection, sparing of time and resources, with a positive impact on healthcare costs and access to treatments, reducing inequalities and delays in diagnosis and cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Panzavolta
- IUSS Cognitive Neuroscience (ICoN) Center, Scuola Universitaria Di Studi Superiori IUSS, Piazza Della Vittoria 15, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Chiara Cerami
- IUSS Cognitive Neuroscience (ICoN) Center, Scuola Universitaria Di Studi Superiori IUSS, Piazza Della Vittoria 15, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
- Dementia Research Center, Mondino Foundation IRCCS, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Paolo Caffarra
- Membro esperto Tavolo permanente sulle demenze del Ministero della Salute, Rome, Italy
| | - Dalila De Vita
- Department of Psychology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Alessandra Dodich
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Cristina Fonti
- IRCCS, Istituto Delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Federica L'Abbate
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Laganà
- Associazione Per La Ricerca Neurogenetica Odv, Lamezia Terme, Italy
| | - Luigi Lavorgna
- Clinica Neurologica I, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Camillo Marra
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Costanza Papagno
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Stracciari
- Membro esperto Tavolo permanente sulle demenze del Ministero della Salute, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Trojano
- Department of Psychology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | | | | | - Federico Sternini
- InsideAI, Bologna, Italy
- PolitoBIOMed Lab, Politecnico Di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Stefano F Cappa
- IUSS Cognitive Neuroscience (ICoN) Center, Scuola Universitaria Di Studi Superiori IUSS, Piazza Della Vittoria 15, 27100, Pavia, Italy
- Dementia Research Center, Mondino Foundation IRCCS, Pavia, Italy
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