Title | Development of a Proxy-Free Objective Assessment Tool of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living in Mild Cognitive Impairment Using Smart Home Technologies. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2016 |
Authors | Jekel, K, Damian, M, Storf, H, Hausner, L, Frölich, L |
Journal | J Alzheimers Dis |
Volume | 52 |
Issue | 2 |
Pagination | 509-17 |
Date Published | 2016 |
ISSN | 1875-8908 |
Abstract | BACKGROUND: The assessment of activities of daily living (ADL) is essential for dementia diagnostics. Even in mild cognitive impairment (MCI), subtle deficits in instrumental ADL (IADL) may occur and signal a higher risk of conversion to dementia. Thus, sensitive and reliable ADL assessment tools are important. Smart homes equipped with sensor technology and video cameras may provide a proxy-free assessment tool for the detection of IADL deficits. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to investigate the potential of a smart home environment for the assessment of IADL in MCI. METHOD: The smart home consisted of a two-room flat equipped with activity sensors and video cameras. Participants with either MCI or healthy controls (HC) had to solve a standardized set of six tasks, e.g., meal preparation, telephone use, and finding objects in the flat. RESULTS: MCI participants needed more time (1384 versus 938 seconds, p CONCLUSION: This pilot study showed that smart home technologies offer the chance for an objective and ecologically valid assessment of IADL. It can be analyzed not only whether a task is successfully completed but also how it is completed. Future studies should concentrate on the development of automated detection of IADL deficits. |
DOI | 10.3233/JAD-151054 |
Alternate Journal | J. Alzheimers Dis. |
PubMed ID | 27031479 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC4927882 |