Online reaction time tests offer insights into women's cognitive health

Online reaction time tests offer insights into women's cognitive health

Online tests of women's reaction times provide insights into cognitive function and could help fill data gaps on early cognitive problems, potentially impacting the development of dementia later in life, finds a new study led by researchers at UCL and other universities.

The new paper, published inBMJ openfinds that online testing can be an easy and effective way for women in their 40s and older to volunteer for dementia prevention research from their homes instead of visiting clinics. It shows that these tests can provide researchers with useful data about people's cognitive functions by testing their reaction times.

Women have long been underrepresented in healthy aging research, despite making up more than half of the population. We have developed a simple way to measure cognitive function in the home without requiring individuals to travel to clinics or receive home visits. Our research shows that testing cognitive function in the home is largely acceptable, easy and convenient. “

Dr. Gareth Hagger-Johnson, lead author, UCL Geography

Measuring a person's reaction time is the easiest way to measure their cognitive function. Although reaction time is not currently used to study problems with cognitive function, existing research shows that slower reaction times could predict future cognitive decline and dementia.

To specifically target women for the study, researchers relied on data collected from participants in the UK Women's Cohort Study, a longitudinal study originally designed to assess nutritional health that has expanded to track other components of women's health. The researchers relied on data collected from 2010 to 2011 during a follow-up study with 768 participants aged 48 to 85.

The online test measured users' reactions on their home computers by tapping a number key as quickly as possible to respond to the digit displayed on the screen. Users also completed an online questionnaire about their health literacy, education level, general health and other characteristics. Feedback from the tests showed that participants mostly found the task easy and not stressful. Distracting pets and internet connection issues were the top concerns raised by participants.

Study limitations

Despite the generally positive response, researchers warn that volunteer effect bias may be introduced. Each higher level of education increased the likelihood of volunteering by about 7%. Similarly, women who reported themselves as having “high” intelligence were 19% more likely to pass the test than those who said they were “average” intelligence. Younger women were more likely to try the online tests, with estimated participation rates going from 89% at age 45 to 44% at age 65.

Dr. Hagger-Johnson added: "While it is clear that web-based tests of cognitive function are valuable to researchers, it is important that we understand the limitations of unsupervised, at-home testing. More efforts need to be made to reach vulnerable adults who do not regularly use digital technologies."

A surprising finding was that women who said they had lower health literacy made fewer errors on the reaction test. The researchers say this could be because it took them longer to decide what the right answer was, a pattern previously observed in older compared to younger adults.

The study was carried out in collaboration with researchers from City St George's, the University of London, the University of Leeds and Heriot-Watt University.

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