After review of the existing literature on cognitive screening, we published two articles where the theoretical aspects of the project are presented.
Based on this work, we recognised that two widely used screening tests (MoCA, ACE-III), might benefit most from modification using a “process-based” approach.
In year 1, work with healthy older volunteers helped to determine the responses, errors, and behaviours shown by participants when completing these tests. With this information, changes were made to these tests to increase the amount of information that can be collected in a single short session. Testing of older adults, both healthy and clinical, using these modified tests was then extended in Ireland and internationally (Spain and USA).
In Ireland, the modified MoCA (MoCA-PA) is now being used in two specialist memory clinics, with further test-sites due. Psychology staff from University of Salamanca (Spain) are now developing a Spanish version of MoCA-PA, testing a large sample of healthy older adults. In the USA, contacts with neuropsychologists Dr. David Libon and Dr. Melissa Lamar have enabled MoCA-PA to be piloted with a mixed clinical sample. We are also in the process of test computerisation in collaboration with a company in the Netherlands that developed an open platform for test computerisation.
This extension of our network and resources has extended the studies with clinical samples amd ongoing studies in Ireland, Spain and the USA will yield results on the utility of these modified versions of tests - with several publications expected in high-impact journals in 2018-19.
Project publicity was achieved via presentations at national and international conferences, and through invitations to speak at a number of lay and scientific meetings. The main targeted international events were the International Neuropsychological Society (INS) Conference (London, July 2016; New Orleans, Feb 2017) and the 6th Meeting of the Federation of the European Societies of Neuropsychology (Sept 2017). Nationally, the main event was the Psychological Society of Ireland Annual Meeting (Nov 2016 & 2017). We also expect to present a symposium at the upcoming INS meeting (Prague, July 2018).
Presentations to the public included an online talk for Supercuidadores, an online education and learning platform for informal caregivers in Spain (April 2016); the Intergenerational Learning Centre in DCU (Sept 2016), an online Openclass to students and the public at UNIR university (Sept 2017) and the European’s Researchers Night, Trinity College Dublin (Sept 2017). Other presentations to the public are scheduled for 2018 (e.g. DCU Mental Health Public Series – May 9th 2018).
Guest lectures, manuscript preparation for high-impact peer-reviewed journals, and the production of high quality scientific presentations was intended not only to publicise the findings of the project but also to provide the Research Fellow with a wider network of professional contacts that will help him develop his career further. Here, the networking activities between the E-SPACE team and other professionals in Europe and the USA have exceeded the initial Fellowship expectations and will ensure that the work started with the E-SPACE project will continue to expand. A series of lectures, conferences and events are now planned over 2018 and 2019 that will ensure the continuity of this work and ensure the extension of its impact. Project progress and additional dissemination activities will be updated regularly through the project’s website www.e-spacedementiaproject.eu which will be kept alive to further inform about post-project developments.
In summary, the E-SPACE project has provided the Fellow with the opportunity to enhance his reputation and connections within the scientific community. Based on his growing reputation as a world-class researcher, he has now secured a permanent position as a Lecturer in Psychology at Maynooth University (MU, Ireland). In addition, because of his reputation, he was invited to participate in a successful H2020 proposal (as Irish Lead investigator) (www.captain-eu.org) where he will now represent MU.
