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Background: Older adults undergoing surgery face increased risks of postoperative neurocognitive disorders which impair cognitive functions. Analog neurocognitive tests are commonly used, but digital tests offer faster, more accessible assessments. Objective: The primary aim was to evaluate the #feasibility of a digital cognitive test battery in older adults undergoing abdominal surgery. #feasibility included estimation of recruitment and retention rates, acceptability, perceived value and #usability of the test. The secondary aim was to explore outcome trajectories of cognition, depression, functional status and quality of recovery. Methods: A non-randomized #feasibility study. Recruitment and retention rates were measured using patient logs and expanded upon in semi-structured interviews with nurses. Acceptability, perceived value, and #usability were explored through interviews with patients and nurses, and the System #usability Scale (SUS). Cognitive functions were assessed with a digital cognitive test battery (CERAD, TMT A+B, Stroop, SDPT) and the Nursing Delirium Screening scale, and depression with the Geriatric Depression Scale. Functional status was measured using World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule, and postoperative recovery with the Swedish Quality of Recovery questionnaire. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests and qualitative data with content analysis. Results: The test battery was feasible, acceptable and demonstrated excellent #usability. The mean SUS score was 87 (SD=17.9, 95% CI: 78.9-95.2), and all predefined progression criteria were met. Recruitment spanned over 1.5 years, during which 24 patients were included (mean age of 77 years, range 63-90, 56% women). Most patients underwent laparoscopic colorectal #Cancer surgery. Three patients developed postoperative delirium for one day only. No patient developed delayed neurocognitive recovery or mild/major neurocognitive disorder at the postoperative follow-up. Qualitative data showed that both nurses and patients regarded the digital cognitive test battery as important for assessing cognitive function, and found it easy to use and understand. Nurses reported that recruitment was challenging, partly because not all patients attended a preoperative in-person consultation prior to surgery. Conclusions: The digital, self-administered cognitive test battery was found to be feasible, acceptable, and usable in older adults undergoing abdominal surgery. However, recruitment challenges and a small, homogeneous sample limit generalizability and warrant careful consideration in a larger-scale study. Clinical Trial: NCT05564195, registration date 2022-10-03.

Background: The early detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is crucial for providing treatment before further decline. Cognitive challenge tests such as the Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales for Semantic Interference and Learning (LASSI-L™) can identify…

In this opinion article, vascular and cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Anahita Dua argues that President Donald Trump's public comments about passing cognitive tests should not be viewed as definitive proof of exceptional mental fitness. Instead, she contends that the discussion highlights a broader issue: the United States lacks a standardized system for evaluating the cognitive health of presidential candidates and sitting presidents. Dua notes that many professions involving significant responsibility, such as aviation, medicine, and the military, require periodic cognitive or physical assessments, while the presidency does not. She argues that cognitive decline is a medical reality that can affect anyone regardless of political affiliation and that voters deserve objective information about the mental fitness of national leaders. The article explains that one commonly referenced screening tool, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), is designed to identify potential cognitive concerns and determine whether further evaluation is needed. However, Dua emphasizes that passing the test does not demonstrate superior cognitive ability or guarantee full mental fitness. She compares passing a MoCA to passing a routine vision test when renewing a driver's license: reassuring in some circumstances but not conclusive evidence of exceptional performance. The author rejects concerns that cognitive testing would unfairly stigmatize older individuals, arguing that transparency would strengthen public trust and reduce speculation. She also stresses that age alone is not a reliable measure of competence, since some people remain highly capable into old age while others experience decline earlier. Ultimately, the article calls for objective, routine cognitive evaluations for presidents and candidates as a matter of public accountability and voter confidence.

On May 1, 2026, former President Donald Trump addressed residents of The Villages, a large retirement community in Florida, emphasizing his belief that candidates for president and vice president should undergo cognitive testing. Trump argued that without such assessments, the nation risks electing leaders who lack sufficient mental acuity, referring to the possibility of being 'stuck with a man who's a moron.' During his speech, he highlighted his own performance on cognitive tests, claiming to have aced three assessments and suggesting that former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden could not have passed them. Trump described the tests in detail, noting that while the initial questions were simple, the final ten were challenging, implying that not everyone could handle them successfully. Social media users quickly reacted with humor and sarcasm, noting the irony of Trump using the term 'moron' while discussing mental fitness. Analysts and commentators pointed out that passing a basic cognitive test does not necessarily reflect leadership skill or decision-making ability, emphasizing that real-world decisions are a more accurate measure of a president's effectiveness. The event sparked widespread online commentary, highlighting both Trump’s focus on cognitive competence and the controversial language he used to make his point.

Retiring Texas congresswoman and former House Appropriations Committee Chair Kay Granger has been experiencing “dementia issues” in recent months and is living in an independent living facility, her s...

Do you feel hopeless, worthless, nervous, or persistently on-edge? Do these emotions make it difficult for you to function day-to-day? In this study, we want to understand how your thoughts and feelings relate to each other over the day. Complete our study recruitment form!

Background and ObjectiveSustained attention is a transdiagnostic phenotype linked with most forms of psychopathology. We sought to understand factors that in...