Remote Neuropsychological Assessment for Rural Older Adults

 

FREE assessment for healthy individuals 60 and over!
Your participation may help identify Alzheimer’s and other cognitive challenges in aging adults.

This remote study is run by the Department of Neurology at the University of Iowa College of Medicine.

We are seeking older adults living in rural areas who are generally healthy and interested in contributing to research that may improve access to care.

Why Is This Important?

 

Neuropsychological assessment helps us understand brain function by evaluating memory, attention, problem-solving, and other cognitive skills. It helps determine if changes in thinking are due to normal aging, medical problems, or conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.

But rural older adults have often lacked access to these evaluations. This project uses remote technology to reach people in their own homes and build a comparison group (normative data) to support better diagnosis and care for rural patients.

The project is part of a broader effort to make testing accessible regardless of internet access or proximity to a clinic. Participants receive the tools needed for testing at no cost.

What Will I Be Doing?

  • Participate in a remote neuropsychological assessment lasting about 2.5 hours (includes a short interview and cognitive tasks)
  • Assessments are conducted over video with a trained clinician
  • You’ll complete activities similar to brain games: memory, attention, problem-solving, and language tasks
  • Testing is designed to be engaging and paced comfortably for older adults
  • Your performance will be compared to others your age, sex, and education to help identify normal vs. concerning patterns

 

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Interested? Let’s Talk!

To contact the research staff in the Department of Neurology:

Call:
Dr. Cole Toovey – (319) 678-7874
Marilyn Dolezal – (319) 384-6050

Email:
Neu-RemoteCognitive@uiowa.edu

What Do I Need to Participate?

You do not need your own computer, internet, or camera. We will provide all necessary equipment:

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  • A tablet with a built-in camera
  • A portable Wi-Fi device (jetpack)
  • Paper-based testing materials

You will need: 

  • A quiet, distraction-free environment
  • A single block of time (approximately 2.5 hours)

We’ll help set everything up and guide you through the entire process.

Why You May (or May Not) Want to Join

You may want to participate if you:

  • Support better access to cognitive evaluations for rural older adults
  • Would like a baseline assessment of your cognitive functioning (results can be shared with your physician)
  • Enjoy mental challenges (e.g., brain games, puzzles)

You may not want to participate if you have:

  • A history of stroke or seizures
  • Been diagnosed with a condition like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease

This study is intended for neurologically healthy individuals.

 

We are happy to answer your questions, walk you through the process, and help determine if you’re eligible.

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