The diagnosis of neurocognitive disorders such as early Alzheimer's disease (AD) or primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is particularly difficult and constantly evolving, often leading to diagnostic erraticity. However, several studies have shown that graphic parameters are affected in people with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease. The use of new technologies in the study and analysis of the abilities of people with neurodegenerative diseases is increasingly recommended. The use of a digital tablet with a stylus makes it possible to objectivize the kinematic parameters of writing (pressure, inclination, speed, jerk, time of writing task) and thus would allow a low-cost diffusion of this technology in particular by including it in already existing screening batteries. The overall objective of the project is to characterize and compare the graphical markers of a writing task, either language-based (writing words, non-words, sentences) or non-language-based (drawing shapes), in patients with PPA, early-stage Alzheimer's disease (i.e., at the stage of minor neurocognitive disorders and major neurocognitive disorders at the beginning of the disease), and in people with no cognitive disorders.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
53
The study consists of a single physical visit to the research team's site. Participants will take a graphic task included in a validated test for language impairment in adults and older adults (DTLA). This test with writing data has a maximum completion time of 15 minutes. Diagnostic data will be collected from the patient's chart, frailty data and socio-demographic data will be collected by self-questionnaires. Participants will be evaluated by the principal investigator or his or her representatives from the research team.
CRIUGM
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Average writing pressure
The primary outcome measure is the difference in writing pressure averages collected between the language and non-language tasks in the three groups of interest. It will be assessed using DTLA screening battery (Macoir et al., 2017) to which writing tasks will be added.
Time frame: 3 months
Average writing speed
The second primary outcome measure is the difference in writing speed averages collected between the language and non-language tasks in the three groups of interest. It will be assessed using DTLA screening battery (Macoir et al., 2017) to which writing tasks will be added.
Time frame: 3 months
Physical and autonomy frailty
A physical frailty score will be obtained by using the CARE questionnaire. An autonomy frailty score will be obtained by using ADL and IADL scales.
Time frame: 3 months
Socio-demographic characteristics
Participants will be asked their date of birth, sex, gender, lateralization (right-handed, left-handed or ambidextrous), level of education, born in Canada or elsewhere, number of years on Canadian soil, place of living (individual residence, RPP, other), presence of a natural caregiver.
Time frame: 3 months
Stage of the neurodegenerative disease
Stage of the neurodegenerative disease will be assessed by using the MMSE test. Furthermore, participants will be asked the number of medications taken per day, the use of psychotropic medications (antidepressants, anxiolytics, neuroleptics) and the use of an antidementia treatment.
Time frame: 3 months
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