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Rudd KD, Lawler K, Callisaya ML, Alty J. Investigating the associations between upper limb motor function and cognitive impairment: a scoping review. GeroScience 2023; 45:3449-3473. [PMID: 37337026 PMCID: PMC10643613 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00844-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Upper limb motor function is a potential new biomarker of cognitive impairment and may aid discrimination from healthy ageing. However, it remains unclear which assessments to use. This study aimed to explore what methods have been used and to describe associations between upper limb function and cognitive impairment. A scoping review was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL and Web of Science. A systematic search was undertaken, including synonyms for key concepts 'upper limb', 'motor function' and 'cognitive impairment'. Selection criteria included tests of upper limb motor function and impaired cognition in adults. Analysis was by narrative synthesis. Sixty papers published between 1998 and 2022, comprising 41,800 participants, were included. The most common assessment tasks were finger tapping, Purdue Pegboard Test and functional tasks such as writing. Protocols were diverse in terms of equipment used and recording duration. Most participants were recruited from clinical settings. Alzheimer's Disease was the most common cause of cognitive impairment. Results were mixed but, generally, slower speed, more errors, and greater variability in upper limb movement variables was associated with cognitive impairment. This review maps the upper limb motor function assessments used and summarises the available evidence on how these associate with cognitive impairment. It identifies research gaps and may help guide protocols for future research. There is potential for upper limb motor function to be used in assessments of cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaylee D Rudd
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Katherine Lawler
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
- School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michele L Callisaya
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
- Peninsula Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jane Alty
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
- School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
- Neurology Department, Royal Hobart Hospital, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
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Alty J, Bai Q, Li R, Lawler K, St George RJ, Hill E, Bindoff A, Garg S, Wang X, Huang G, Zhang K, Rudd KD, Bartlett L, Goldberg LR, Collins JM, Hinder MR, Naismith SL, Hogg DC, King AE, Vickers JC. The TAS Test project: a prospective longitudinal validation of new online motor-cognitive tests to detect preclinical Alzheimer's disease and estimate 5-year risks of cognitive decline and dementia. BMC Neurol 2022; 22:266. [PMID: 35850660 PMCID: PMC9289357 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-022-02772-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The worldwide prevalence of dementia is rapidly rising. Alzheimer's disease (AD), accounts for 70% of cases and has a 10-20-year preclinical period, when brain pathology covertly progresses before cognitive symptoms appear. The 2020 Lancet Commission estimates that 40% of dementia cases could be prevented by modifying lifestyle/medical risk factors. To optimise dementia prevention effectiveness, there is urgent need to identify individuals with preclinical AD for targeted risk reduction. Current preclinical AD tests are too invasive, specialist or costly for population-level assessments. We have developed a new online test, TAS Test, that assesses a range of motor-cognitive functions and has capacity to be delivered at significant scale. TAS Test combines two innovations: using hand movement analysis to detect preclinical AD, and computer-human interface technologies to enable robust 'self-testing' data collection. The aims are to validate TAS Test to [1] identify preclinical AD, and [2] predict risk of cognitive decline and AD dementia. METHODS Aim 1 will be addressed through a cross-sectional study of 500 cognitively healthy older adults, who will complete TAS Test items comprising measures of motor control, processing speed, attention, visuospatial ability, memory and language. TAS Test measures will be compared to a blood-based AD biomarker, phosphorylated tau 181 (p-tau181). Aim 2 will be addressed through a 5-year prospective cohort study of 10,000 older adults. Participants will complete TAS Test annually and subtests of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Battery (CANTAB) biennially. 300 participants will undergo in-person clinical assessments. We will use machine learning of motor-cognitive performance on TAS Test to develop an algorithm that classifies preclinical AD risk (p-tau181-defined) and determine the precision to prospectively estimate 5-year risks of cognitive decline and AD. DISCUSSION This study will establish the precision of TAS Test to identify preclinical AD and estimate risk of cognitive decline and AD. If accurate, TAS Test will provide a low-cost, accessible enrichment strategy to pre-screen individuals for their likelihood of AD pathology prior to more expensive tests such as blood or imaging biomarkers. This would have wide applications in public health initiatives and clinical trials. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05194787 , 18 January 2022. Retrospectively registered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Alty
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia. .,School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia. .,Royal Hobart Hospital, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
| | - Quan Bai
- School of Information and Communication Technologies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Renjie Li
- School of Information and Communication Technologies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Katherine Lawler
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.,Royal Hobart Hospital, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Rebecca J St George
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.,School of Psychological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Edward Hill
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Aidan Bindoff
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Saurabh Garg
- School of Information and Communication Technologies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Xinyi Wang
- School of Information and Communication Technologies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Guan Huang
- School of Information and Communication Technologies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Kaining Zhang
- School of Information and Communication Technologies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Kaylee D Rudd
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Larissa Bartlett
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Lynette R Goldberg
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Jessica M Collins
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Mark R Hinder
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Sharon L Naismith
- Healthy Brain Ageing Program, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - David C Hogg
- School of Computing, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Anna E King
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - James C Vickers
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
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