System and method of testing cognitive function

• US 20020192624A1
• Filed: 05/10/2002
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CogState Limited
• Original Assignee: CogState Limited
• Inventors: Darby, David G., Bush, Ashley, Collie, Alex, Maruff, Paul
• Application Number:
  US10/144,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20020192624A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/236
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4088 Diagnosing of monitoring cognitive diseases, e.g. Alzheimer, prion diseases or dementia
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F

Abstract

A system and method of diagnosing the onset and monitoring the progression of cognitive impairment may incorporate administering one or more psychological tests and instructing a subject regarding rules for responding to the one or more tests without providing cultural cues such as may be introduced in language-based instruction techniques. Proper test responses may be simulated during an instruction phase preceding the testing phase. An apparatus, system, and method of testing cognitive function may be implemented in a computerized system.

Claims

1. A method of evaluating cognitive function;

said method comprising;

administering a test operative to diagnose cognitive impairment; and

instructing a subject regarding rules for said test without providing cultural cues.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said instructing comprises minimizing language-based cues.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said instructing comprises simulating a test trial event.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said instructing further comprises indicating a proper response to said test trial event.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said administering and said instructing comprise utilizing a computerized system.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said administering comprises recording responses to test trial events.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said administering further comprises recording data related to said responses.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising analyzing said responses and said data relative to previously recorded data records.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said previously recorded data records are obtained during a previous administration of a test.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said previously recorded data records are normative data for a population.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising transmitting said responses and said data to a remote device.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said administering comprises providing a plurality of tests administered in sequence.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said instructing comprises simulating a test trial event for each of said plurality of tests.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein said analyzing comprises identifying pre-symptomatic cognitive impairment.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising selectively repeating said administering and said instructing for a plurality of discrete tests.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said instructing comprises minimizing language-based cues.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said instructing comprises simulating at least one of said plurality of test trials.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said instructing further comprises indicating a proper response to said one of said plurality of test trials.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein said selecting, said instructing, said administering, and said recording comprise utilizing a computerized system.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein said recording further comprises recording data related to said responses.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising analyzing said responses and said data relative to previously recorded data records.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said previously recorded data records are normative data for a population.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising transmitting said responses and said data to a remote device.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein said analyzing comprises identifying pre-symptomatic cognitive impairment.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said instruction module instructs said subject without providing language-based cues.

28. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said instruction module comprises a test simulator operative to provide a simulation of a test trial event and to provide an indication of a proper response to said test trial event.

29. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said testing module and said instruction module are implemented in computer software.

30. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising a data structure operative to record responses to test trial events.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said data structure is further operative to record data related to said responses.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 further comprising an analytic module operative to analyze said responses and said data relative to previously recorded data records.

33. The apparatus of claim 31 further comprising a network interface allowing transmission of said responses and said data to a remote device.

34. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said testing module is operative to administer a plurality of tests in sequence.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said instruction module is operative to simulate a test trial event for each of said plurality of tests.

36. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said analytic module comprises a performance evaluator operative to identify test trial responses and data indicative of pre-symptomatic cognitive impairment.

38. The medium of claim 37 further encoded with data and instructions and further causing an apparatus to identify and to administer a plurality of discrete tests in sequence;

and wherein the apparatus is further caused to instruct a subject regarding the rules for each of said plurality of discrete tests.

39. The medium of claim 37 further encoded with data and instructions and further causing an apparatus to instruct a subject without providing language-based cues.

40. The medium of claim 37 further encoded with data and instructions and further causing an apparatus to:

simulate a test trial event; and

indicate a proper response to said test trial event.

41. The medium of claim 37 further encoded with data and instructions and further causing an apparatus to record responses to test trial events.

42. The medium of claim 41 further encoded with data and instructions and further causing an apparatus to record data related to said responses.

43. The medium of claim 42 further encoded with data and instructions and further causing an apparatus to analyze said responses and said data relative to previously recorded data records.

44. The medium of claim 43 further encoded with data and instructions and further causing an apparatus to transmit said responses, said data, and analytic results based thereupon to a remote device.

45. The medium of claim 43 further encoded with data and instructions and further causing an apparatus to identify pre-symptomatic cognitive impairment.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein said instructing comprises minimizing language-based cues.

48. The method of claim 46 wherein said instructing comprises:

simulating a plurality of test trials; and

indicating a proper response to each of said plurality of test trials.

49. The method of claim 46 wherein said selecting, said instructing, said administering, said recording, and said measuring comprise utilizing a computerized system.

50. The method of claim 46 wherein said recording further comprises recording data related to said responses.

51. The method of claim 50 wherein said measuring comprises analyzing said responses and said data relative to previously recorded data records.

52. The method of claim 46 wherein said treating comprising administering a cognition enhancing drug.

16. A method of administering a sequence of tests;

said method comprising;

selecting a test;

said test comprising a plurality of test trials and operative to diagnose a condition of cognitive impairment;

instructing a subject regarding rules for responding to said plurality of test trials without providing cultural cues;

administering said test;

recording responses to a plurality of test trials displayed during said administering; and

selectively repeating said identifying, said instructing, said administering, and said recording for an additional test.

26. An apparatus comprising:

a testing module operative to administer a test; and

an instruction module operative to instruct a subject regarding rules for said test without providing cultural cues.

37. A computer readable medium encoded with data and computer executable instructions;

the data and instructions causing an apparatus executing the instructions to;

identify a test operative to diagnose a condition of cognitive impairment;

instruct a subject regarding rules for said test without providing cultural cues; and

administer said test to said subject.

46. A method of evaluating the efficacy of a treatment regimen for treating cognitive impairment;

said method comprising;

selecting a test operative to evaluate cognitive function;

instructing a subject regarding rules for said test without providing cultural cues;

administering said test;

recording responses to a plurality of test trials displayed during said administering;

responsive to said recording, measuring a condition of cognitive impairment;

treating said subject in accordance with a treatment regimen;

selectively repeating said selecting, said instructing, said administering, said recording, and said measuring; and

responsive to said selectively repeating, evaluating said treatment regimen using a comparison of results obtained during said measuring.

53. A system of evaluating cognitive function;

said system comprising;

a testing module operative to administer a test;

an instruction module operative to instruct a subject regarding rules for said test without providing cultural cues; and

a test coordinator operative to control operation of said testing module and said instruction module in accordance with a test protocol.

54. The system of claim 53 wherein said instruction module instructs said subject without providing language-based cues.

55. The system of claim 53 wherein said instruction module comprises a test simulator operative to provide a simulation of a test trial event and to provide an indication of a proper response to said test trial event in accordance with instructions from said test coordinator.

56. The system of claim 53 wherein said testing module, said instruction module, and said test coordinator are implemented in computer software.

57. The system of claim 56 wherein said test coordinator is implemented at a first device and said testing module and said instruction module are implemented at a second device coupled to said first device by a network connection.

58. The system of claim 53 further comprising a data structure operative to record responses to a plurality of test trial events and data related to said responses.

59. The system of claim 58 further comprising an analytic module operative to analyze said responses and said data relative to previously recorded data records.

60. The system of claim 53 wherein said test coordinator is operative:

to instruct said testing module to administer a plurality of tests in sequence; and

to instruct said instruction module to simulate a test trial event for each of said plurality of tests.

61. The system of claim 59 wherein said analytic module comprises a performance evaluator operative to identify test trial responses and data indicative of pre-symptomatic cognitive impairment.