Test method and apparatus for evaluating cognitive function decline
Provided are a test method and apparatus for evaluating cognitive function decline. The test method for evaluating cognitive function decline includes performing a testing stage of testing how many missions presented for each of a plurality of test items a user performs, and calculating a test score for each of the plurality of test items, performing a category classifying stage of classifying at least one test item from among the plurality of test items as one neurocognitive category from among a plurality of neurocognitive categories, and performing an evaluating stage of evaluating whether there is cognitive function decline in the one neurocognitive category, based on a test score of the at least one test item classified as the one neurocognitive category.
1 . A test method for evaluating cognitive function decline, the test method being executed by a processor of a test apparatus for evaluating cognitive function decline, and comprising:
performing a testing stage of testing how many missions presented for each of a plurality of test items a user performs, and calculating a test score for each of the plurality of test items; performing a category classifying stage of classifying at least one test item from among the plurality of test items as one neurocognitive category from among a plurality of neurocognitive categories based on a type of the test item;
performing an evaluating stage of evaluating whether there is cognitive function decline in the one neurocognitive category, based on a test score of the at least one test item classified as the one neurocognitive category; and
in response to determining that there is the cognitive function decline in the one neurocognitive category, performing an additional test tailored to the one neurocognitive category to more accurately evaluate a level of the decline in the one neurocognitive category and detect a certain level of cognitive impairment occurred in a pre-dementia stage,
wherein the category classifying stage comprises:
classifying one of the test items as a first neurocognitive category for determining cognitive function decline in memory or as a fifth neurocognitive category for determining cognitive function decline in executive attention.
2 . The test method of claim 1 , wherein
the performing of the testing stage comprises:
a third testing stage of executing a test on a third test item for evaluating how accurately and quickly an arbitrary number matched to a presented symbol image within a pre-set time limit after looking at the presented symbol image and calculating a third test score,
wherein the category classifying stage comprises:
classifying the third test item as a fifth neurocognitive category for determining cognitive function decline in executive attention.
3 . The test method of claim 1 , wherein
the performing of the testing stage comprises:
a seventh testing stage of executing a test on a seventh test item for evaluating how accurately and quickly a presented number is selected within a pre-set time limit and presenting numbers and days and evaluating how accurately and quickly a day corresponding to a number is selected and calculating a seventh test score,
wherein the category classifying stage comprises:
classifying the seventh test item as a fifth neurocognitive category for determining cognitive function decline in executive attention.
4 . The test method of claim 1 , wherein
the performing of the testing stage comprises:
a first testing stage of executing a test on a first test item for evaluating how many words corresponding to a pre-set presented category the user utters within a time limit and calculating a first test score,
wherein the category classifying stage comprises:
classifying the first test item as a fifth neurocognitive category for determining cognitive function decline in executive attention.
5 . The test method of claim 1 , wherein
the performing of the testing stage comprises:
a second testing stage of executing a test on a second test item for learning words or images while informing pre-set category clues and evaluating how many of the learned words or images are remembered after a pre-set time has elapsed and calculating a second test score,
wherein the category classifying stage comprises:
classifying the second test item as a first neurocognitive category for determining cognitive function decline in memory.
6 . The test method of claim 1 , wherein
the performing of the testing stage comprises:
a fourth testing stage of executing a test on a fourth test item for learning a pre-set presented image and evaluating how much of the learned presented image is remembered after a pre-set time has elapsed and calculating a fourth test score,
wherein the category classifying stage comprises:
classifying the fourth test item as a first neurocognitive category for determining cognitive function decline in memory.
7 . The test method of claim 1 , wherein
the performing of the testing stage comprises:
a fifth testing stage of executing a test on a fifth test item for evaluating whether a pre-set presented word and a color of the pre-set presented word are accurately uttered and calculating a fifth test score,
wherein the category classifying stage comprises:
classifying the fifth test item as a fifth neurocognitive category for determining cognitive function decline in executive attention.
8 . The test method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to determining that there is the cognitive function decline in the one neurocognitive category, displaying, on a screen of the test apparatus, information for treating the cognitive function decline in the one neurocognitive category.
9 . The test method of claim 8 , wherein the information for treating the cognitive function decline includes hospital locations, doctor information, hospital appointment information, or suggested medical tests.
10 . The test method of claim 8 , wherein the additional test is a theory of mind test, a facial emotion test, or a color vision test.
11 . A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having stored therein a computer program for executing the test method of claim 1 , by using a computer.
12 . A test apparatus for evaluating cognitive function decline, the test apparatus comprising:
a screen;
a processor; and
a memory operatively connected to the processor and storing at least one code performed by the processor,
wherein the memory stores at least one code which, when executed through the processor, causes the processor to:
perform a testing stage of testing how many missions presented for each of a plurality of test items a user performs, and calculating a test score for each of the plurality of test items;
perform a category classification process of classifying at least one test item from among the plurality of test items as one neurocognitive category from among a plurality of neurocognitive categories based on a type of the test item;
perform an evaluation process of evaluating whether there is cognitive function decline in the one neurocognitive category, based on a test score of the at least one test item classified as the one neurocognitive category; and
in response to determining that there is the cognitive function decline in the one neurocognitive category, perform an additional test tailored to the one neurocognitive category to more accurately evaluate a level of the decline in the one neurocognitive category and detect a certain level of cognitive impairment occurred in a pre-dementia stage,
wherein the memory stores a code which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to, in performing the category classifying process, classify one of the test items as a first neurocognitive category for determining cognitive function decline in memory or as a fifth neurocognitive category for determining cognitive function decline in executive attention.
13 . The test apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the memory stores at least one code which, when executed through the processor, causes the processor to:
in response to determining that there is the cognitive function decline in the one neurocognitive category, display, on the screen of the test apparatus, information for treating the cognitive function decline in the one neurocognitive category.
14 . The test apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the information for treating the cognitive function decline includes hospital locations, doctor information, hospital appointment information, or suggested medical tests.
15 . The test apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the additional test is a theory of mind test, a facial emotion test, or a color vision test.