Feasibility and Reliability of CogniFit, A Digital Cognitive Assessment Battery in Older Adults

As the elderly population in India continues to grow, there is an increasing need for accessible and reliable cognitive assessments to detect early signs of cognitive decline. Traditional assessment methods often have limitations in terms of accessibility, cost, and sensitivity to subtle cognitive changes. This highlights the urgent need for innovative tools that can provide consistent, accurate, and cost-effective evaluations of cognitive function, particularly for older adults who may face challenges in attending in-person assessments. The CogniFit Cognitive Assessment Battery, a digital platform offering reliable cognitive evaluations, holds promise in addressing these challenges. However, its feasibility and reliability in the Indian context, especially among older adults, remains underexplored.

The aging population in India, projected to reach 347 million individuals aged 60 and older by 2050, necessitates the development of efficient and scalable tools for cognitive screening. The CogniFit Cognitive Assessment Battery (CAB), an internationally validated digital tool, offers a potential solution. However, there is limited research on its practical implementation in India, particularly in terms of its feasibility and intra-rater and test-retest reliability with older adults. This study is critical in determining whether the CogniFit CAB can be effectively integrated into the care practices for older adults in India, particularly for those who face barriers to traditional healthcare settings. By examining these factors, the study aims to assess the potential of CogniFit to facilitate early cognitive assessments and support healthcare initiatives in India’s aging population.

This study is among the first in India to assess the feasibility and intra-rater and test-retest reliability of the CogniFit Cognitive Assessment Battery in older adults. Unlike most existing research, which focuses on cross-sectional comparisons or tool adaptation, this study evaluates the practical implementation and reliability of a digital cognitive tool in real-world settings. By introducing an internationally validated digital tool in a culturally diverse aging population, the study could pave the way for large-scale cognitive screening and personalized digital health interventions in India.