Digital Screening for Early Identification of Cognitive Impairment: A Narrative Review.

Abstract

As longevity increases, cognitive decline in older adults has become a growing concern. Consequently, an increasing interest in the potential of digital tools (e.g., serious games (SG) and virtual reality (VR)) for early screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is emerging. Traditional cognitive assessments like the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) are widely used but have limitations related to cultural bias and manual scoring, while their digital adaptations, such as MOCA-CC, maintain diagnostic accuracy while offering remote administration and automated scoring. Innovative tools, such as the Virtual Super Market (VSM) test and Panoramix Suite, instead, assess cognitive domains like memory, attention, and executive function while promoting engagement and preserving ecological validity, making assessments more reflective of real-world tasks. Several studies show that these tools exhibit strong diagnostic performance, with sensitivity and specificity often exceeding 80%. However, although digital tools offer advantages in accessibility and user engagement, challenges remain concerning technological literacy, data privacy, and long-term validation. Future research should focus on validating these tools across diverse populations and exploring hybrid models that combine traditional and digital assessments, as digital tools show promise in transforming cognitive screening and enabling earlier interventions for cognitive decline. This article is categorized under: Psychology > Development and Aging Neuroscience > Cognition.