The Challenge of Detecting Cognitive Impairment in MS

Cognitive dysfunction affects a significant portion, between 40% and 70%, of individuals diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS).These impairments can substantially hinder daily activities. Unlike physical symptoms, cognitive issues often go unnoticed, emphasizing the critical need for routine screening to facilitate timely intervention and support. A new digital application developed by researchers at Vrije universiteit Brussel (VUB) and the Brussels University Hospital (UZ Brussel) aims to address this challenge head-on.

Cognitive problems in MS are frequently enough subtle and less visible than physical symptoms, but can have a major impact on the quality of life of patients.
Dr. Stijn Denissen, VUB Researcher

Introducing the “ICOgnition” App: A Digital Solution

The innovative app provides a streamlined and readily available method for monitoring cognitive decline and motor skill limitations in MS patients. UZ Brussel hails it as “an crucial step in the digitization of neurological care.” The application not only assesses cognitive functions but also evaluates the decline in motor skills, a crucial indicator often linked to cognitive impairment.

Traditional tests, such as the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) for cognition and the Nine-hole PEG test (NHPT) for motor skills, have primarily been confined to clinical settings. The “ICOgnition” app offers a user-amiable digital alternative, making regular screening more accessible.

How the App Works: Cognitive and Motor Skill Assessment

The “icognition” app incorporates both cognitive and motor skill assessments. Along with established cognitive tests, it features a novel “finger dexterity test.” This test is inspired by the classic Nine-Hole PEG test, but presents it in a gamified digital format. Patients are tasked with performing subtle movements, such as “breaking an egg” and transferring it to a pan, requiring precise fine motor control.

Digitization and Personalized Care: A Step Forward

The progress of this app aligns with the growing trend of digitization in healthcare. According to dr.Denissen, “Digitization is a first step towards more personalized and efficient care. By using data better,we can intervene faster and thus optimize the care for MS patients.”

This app was developed in collaboration with ICOMETRIX,a company specializing in digitizing existing cognitive and motor tests. The collaboration highlights the importance of combining academic research with technological expertise to create practical solutions for healthcare challenges.

Easing the burden on Healthcare Professionals

Dr.Delphine van Laethem emphasizes the potential of the app to alleviate the strain on healthcare resources: “In many hospitals there is not enough staff to perform systematic cognitive screening. this app offers a low-threshold way to do a cognitive and motor evaluation annually,which is essential for proper follow-up of MS patients.”

The developers stress that the app is intended as a supportive tool for healthcare providers, not a replacement for neuropsychologists or other specialists. It aims to streamline the screening process, allowing professionals to focus on more complex cases and provide more personalized care.

Open Science: Promoting Collaboration and Further Research

In the spirit of open science, the VUB-Icometrix team has made the anonymized study data and the code used in the app’s development publicly available. This transparency encourages reproducibility of the study results and facilitates further research in the field.