Development of Behavior-Based Game for Early Screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment: With the Plan for a Feasibility Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to develop serious game content that can test cognitive ability by using digital media such as smartphones and a beam projection. The main idea of the serious game is that the physical movements of the elderly control the game. The different scenarios of the game promote the physical activity of the elderly while at the same time measuring the cognitive characteristics of the elderly through their behavioural reaction to the contents. The contents are aimed at the use of the general healthy adult population to prevent and screen for dementia and cognitive decline in memory loss and temporal-spatial awareness. The content will be designed based on the mini-mental state examination for cognitive domains and on sit to walk gait analysis for a screening of both physical and mental issues. To improve the user’s experience, we plan to measure the user’s behaviors and interaction with the reaction-stimulating serious game content. Though the analysis of the user’s movements, such as reaction times and movement speeds, we plan to measure the state of the cognitive function. The reliability and validity of the content will be checked through a series of clinical pilot tests. The contents will be developed to deal with all the different severity in the stages of dementia from the asymptomatic stage to severe dementia. Through the continuous practice of these whole-body interactive contents, we expect that it will help to slow down the progression and prevention of cognitive and physical decline.