In the researchers’ view, digital tests like these could help accelerate clinical trials for new dementia drugs, particularly for Alzheimer’s disease. Over the longer term, they also see potential for use in clinical routine. The results were published in the journal npj Digital Medicine and are based on data from about 200 older adults.

“Conventional methods for assessing cognitive performance are based on standardized tasks that must be completed orally or in writing—and importantly, under supervision,” explains Dr. David Berron, who leads a research group at DZNE’s Magdeburg site. Berron is also a co-founder of the company neotiv, whose app was used in the current study.