I'd like to learn some characteristics of these tools and whether they are sensitive to subtle cognitive changes in the elderly, especially in subjective cognitive decline patients.
Hi Maria,
The short answer is yes, they both are, or at least at the group level when tested in academic research and clinical trials. Both are computerized cognitive test batteries made up of individual tasks that are designed to tap into various aspects of cognition e.g. attention, working memory, executive function and of course, episodic memory. Both batteries have multiple alternative forms of the tests to enable repeated testing without learning effects of the task stimuli, and in addition to a traditional list learning task that is common in MCI/AD research, both have memory tasks that are not language-dependent to facilitate international research. They have been developed by commercial companies, Cambridge Cognition (CANTAB), and Cogstate, which although means there is usually a cost associated with using them, you can also access scientific and technical support.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I have previously been an employee of Cambridge Cognition. There are over 1300 published papers using CANTAB tests in a wide range of indications - you can access abstracts on their website although you have to register a free account. I recommend you look at the work of Mathew J. Summers for some good data from a longitudinal memory cohort using CANTAB.
Hope that helps,
Brian
Thank you so much Brian, your answer was definetely useful and you references fruitful.
Best regards
Hi Maria,
the CANTAB battery at group level has been used in several works in patients with major depressive disorder, a pathology with subtle cognitive deficits and subjective cognitive declines, and on mild cognitive Impaiment.The main problem of the batery is that it's expensive, so I recommend a customized test test purchase rather than the full battery
best regard, Esteve
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