Using Tablet Games to Determine Engagement of Cognitive Domains in Persons with Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment

WHO AND WHAT?

Past research has shown that cognitive domains such as complex attention, executive function, learning and memory, language, perceptual-motor, and social cognition can be engaged in healthy participants through virtual games. Additionally, leisure activities and bespoke virtual games have also been shown to also engage cognitive domains in persons with dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). However, the ways in which tablet games can be used to elicit engagement of these cognitive domains among people with dementia and MCI warrants further exploration. The objective of this study was to measure the engagement of cognitive domains among people with dementia when playing mainstream tablet games. We hypothesized that mainstream touchscreen tablet games contain elements that engage cognitive domains in persons with dementia.

HOW?

Participants were video recorded while taking part in two studies exploring the use of touchscreen technology among people with dementia and MCI. Videos of participants’ first play sessions were recorded and analyzed using a behavioural coding software, Observer XT. A coding scheme based on observed behaviour codes was created for this analysis. Inter-rater reliability analyses were also conducted to ensure reliability of analyses between two independent coders.

FINDINGS

Results indicate the engagement of all five evaluated cognitive domains, with ‘complex attention’ showing the highest engagement amongst the cognitive domains, and the ‘language’ cognitive domain showing the lowest engagement.

IMPORTANCE

This study shows that mainstream tablet games are capable of engaging cognitive domains among people living with dementia. These results can be used to create mainstream tablet games that can engage cognitive domains in a targeted manner, thereby increasing accessibility of such beneficial games. The results can also be used to create bespoke tablet games that function as therapeutic interventions in persons with dementia.