VISION-COG: A NOVEL DIAGNOSTIC TOOL TO ASSESS COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT IN VISUALLY IMPAIRED OLDER ADULTS

Abstract

Current CI diagnostic instruments rely on visually dependent tasks and are therefore not suitable to assess CI in visually impaired older adults. This thesis reports on the development of the VISually Independent test battery Of NeuroCOGnition (VISION-Cog), a diagnostic tool to assess CI in older adults with VI. First, I conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to elucidate the relationship between VI and CI and ascertain the paucity of instruments available to evaluate CI in the visually impaired. Next, I designed a pilot version of the VISION-Cog using iterative stages of literature review and field expert consultation. This pilot version was then fine-tuned through a mixed-method approach of pilot testing and expert consensus. Overall, this work has resulted in a feasible, comprehensible, and acceptable VISION-Cog capable of replacing visually dependent test batteries and support the clinician-based diagnosis of CI in older adults with VI.