Maximizing the "Functional" in the Functional External Memory Aid Tool for Patient-Centered Treatment Planning in Mild Cognitive Impairment.
Alyssa M Lanzi, Julia L Mendez, Megan Tobin and 1 others
PMID 39418584WHAT IT FOUND
When completing the FEMAT, most participants with mild cognitive impairment described how they would use memory strategies rather than physically using the provided aids.
The tool elicits valuable personal health and technology data, but a verbal description does not prove the patient can successfully use the aid in real life.
Key findings
01Participants were more likely to verbally describe using a memory strategy or external aid than to physically use one during the assessment tasks.
02The assessment elicited significant discussion of self-perceived memory barriers, with 75.9% of relevant responses describing challenges rather than strengths.
03Some participants expressed sensory, motor, or cognitive difficulties using the provided memory aids, such as being unable to open pill organizers or set timers.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample was small (12 participants) and homogeneous, consisting entirely of women who were predominantly Caucasian, which limits generalizability to other demographic groups. The study analyzed a subset of data from a previous validation study, and the participants were screened using the MoCA rather than comprehensive cognitive testing, which may affect the precision of the mild cognitive impairment classification. The study cannot confirm how well the strategies described or demonstrated in the clinic translate to actual use in the patient's natural environment. The findings are based on a single administration of the FEMAT and do not track changes over time or response to intervention.
Declared interests
The work was supported by the National Institute of Aging (NIH Grant K23AG070185-01). The authors declared no other conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret a high FEMAT score based on verbal descriptions as evidence that the patient can independently perform the task. The study found that participants often described using aids they did not physically touch, and some had motor or sensory difficulties with the provided devices. A description is not a demonstration.