Early diagnosis is the cornerstone of preventive medicine. It’s a critical step toward improving an individual’s health and well-being. This holds true for many conditions—from cancer to cardiovascular diseases and diabetes—but it is also true for many neurological disorders, where time can be of the essence.
For patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and other early neurodegenerative conditions, timely identification can open a window for interventions that may slow progression and maintain function longer. As studies have shown, earlier recognition of cognitive issues lets clinicians implement targeted strategies that can preserve cognition, support caregivers, and improve overall outcomes.
Among the tools available, digital cognitive testing stands out as one of the simplest and most accessible first-line approaches for early detection. Unlike blood-based or neuroimaging biomarkers, cognitive tests are inexpensive and quick to administer. With ongoing technological advances, these assessments are increasingly available, creating opportunities to reach patients across distance and language.
Early detection not only saves lives but also protects quality of life. By identifying changes early, clinicians can provide effective interventions, optimize treatment plans, and support individuals and families before decline worsens.
One obstacle to early diagnosis can be geographical isolation. Despite rapid technological progress, millions of people worldwide still lack access to even basic healthcare. According to global estimates, almost half of the world’s population does not receive essential diagnostic services.
For individuals living in rural or underserved areas, neurological care—including cognitive assessment and diagnostic imaging—can be especially limited.
Yet, solutions are within reach. Emerging health technologies are not designed to replace physicians but to extend their reach. Portable, affordable digital tools alongside telemedicine can bring neurological assessment and monitoring to patients who would otherwise go unseen.
Multiple emerging health technologies are available to improve patient care, but not all of them are accessible. Progress requires collaboration among governments, healthcare systems, and technology developers.
Accessibility must be viewed not as an afterthought, but as a priority for providers and health systems—and one that ultimately reduces healthcare costs through earlier diagnosis and more effective prevention.
Recent studies have demonstrated the feasibility of remote cognitive screening using validated digital cognitive tests. One study found that older adults were able to reliably and remotely self-administer cognitive tests, with results comparable to in-person administration across multiple domains such as processing speed, visuospatial working memory, verbal fluency, and episodic verbal memory.
These findings show that digital cognitive tools can identify early cognitive changes while supporting usability and reliability, even among older adults with signs of cognitive decline.
Technological tools have been shown to produce reliable results comparable to traditional in-person assessments, helping to overcome barriers of distance, language, and limited specialist availability.
Digital cognitive assessments can be seamlessly integrated into primary care and neurology settings as first-line screening and assessment tools. Validated platforms like Creyos enable remote administration, standardized scoring, and immediate reporting, facilitating the timely detection of cognitive changes.
This approach accelerates early diagnosis by providing physicians, who are often located hours away, with a powerful tool to assess and support individuals living in geographically isolated areas.
Health technology is advancing faster than ever; however, progress must be shared equally. Innovation in accessibility happens when distance, age, or circumstance no longer determines who can access life-saving care. The future of neuroscience depends not only on the sophistication of our tools but also on who they reach.
Neurologists, researchers, and policymakers share a collective responsibility to ensure that innovation reaches everyone who needs it. Integrating accessible digital cognitive tools into standard clinical pathways is not a distant goal—it’s an achievable next step toward equitable brain health care.
Shirel Barkan-Slater is a cognitive neuroscientist with academic training in psychology and brain sciences. She has contributed to interdisciplinary projects integrating neuroscience with technologies, aiming to translate scientific insights into technological innovations that support cognitive health and quality of life in aging populations. Shirel is deeply passionate about bridging basic brain research with emerging technologies to advance understanding and promote human well-being across the lifespan.