Translating sophisticated remote cognitive assessments for the Oxford Brain Health Centre clinical population

As our population ages, the number of people living with dementia continues to rise and subsequently so does the burden on Psychiatry services. Early diagnosis, particularly of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), provides an essential an opportunity to implement risk reduction to delay onset or progression of dementia. This may be key to target disease modifying treatments before irreversible impairment. Despite research advancements into measures of change in cognitive function, there has been limited progression in the assessments employed by memory clinics. Due to the high demand on these services, most patients in psychiatry only meet with their consultant once/twice before diagnosis and discharge to primary care. Consequently, there is a growing demand for highly sensitive, cognitive assessment that can be self-administered remotely prior to diagnostic appointments, a need that has been exacerbated by the current pandemic, to provide clinicians with increased information to aid diagnosis.