Revolutionising Cognitive Assessment
Simple and simultaneous evaluation of different cognitive abilities in a digital task analogous to real life.
About Us
Developed at Sheffield Hallam University under the leadership of Professor Lynne Barker, Cog-LAB is revolutionising cognitive assessment with a quick, mobile, and accessible digital tool designed for bedside and real-world testing.
The Problem
Brain injury, stroke, and dementia are significant global public health issue. In the UK alone, 1.3 million people live with disabilities from brain injuries, and nearly 950,000 are affected by dementia. These patients require cognitive assessments to evaluate their cognitive deficits, much like physical injuries are assessed. However, the current assessment methods present several challenges.
Current Assessment Challenges
High Costs: Cognitive assessments range from £100s to £1,000s per patient
Time-Consuming: Traditional tests require several hours, often over multiple sessions
Specialised Training: Clinicians need extensive training to administer and score tests
Patient Burden: Tests are abstract and non-analogous to real-life tasks, leading to disengagement
Operational Inefficiency: Multiple sessions result in high commute costs, increased last-minute cancellations, and extended waiting lists, further driving up healthcare service costs
Limitations of Current Quick Assessments:
Commonly used quick assessments, like the Glasgow Coma Scale, Mini-Mental State Examination, and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, while useful, have notable limitations:
Limited Scope: They assess only certain aspects of cognition
Low Sensitivity: Struggle to detect mild impairments
Cultural Biases: Results may be skewed due to differences in language and cultural understanding
Subjectivity: Results are often influenced by the examiner’s interpretation
Simple and simultaneous evaluation of different cognitive abilities in a digital task analogous to real-life
Cog-LAB is the future of cognitive testing. It offers solution to current challenges in cognitive assessment and addresses limitation of conventional tests.
Reduce costs for service providers
Administration of Cog-LAB takes several times less time than assessment with conventional tests and doesn’t require as much post-assessment time for scoring and writeup of the report. Cog-LAB will utilise AI for scoring and production of cognitive recommendations tailored to patient’s lifestyle and needs. It requires far less time of highly specialised staff, and can be used by any allied health profession and researchers who don’t have expertise in cognitive testing.
Reduce waiting lists
Contrary to conventional tests, Cog-LAB assesses several cognitive abilities at the same time in a quick and automated way. The test can be conducted in one sitting with results swiftly scored and implemented in the report with the help of AI. Cog-LAB will allow for assessment of several patients within the time currently allocated to one patient. Conducting assessment in one sitting also reduces risk of cancellations, drop-outs and wasted time when patients cannot turn up to the scheduled session.
Reduce patients burden & costs
Completing assessment in on sitting reduces physical and mental burden placed on patients. This is especially important for people with brain conditions who commonly suffer with fatigue and feeling of exhaustion. Cog-LAB can also reduce strain put on carers and supporters who do not have to accompany several-hours long assessments and organise a few trips to the service provider.
Improve patients' engagement
Patients often complain about conventional assessments as the task appear abstract, infantile, and not related to real-life word. Cog-LAB offers a test analogous to real-life situation and one that is more relatable to patients.
Improve accessibility and inclusivity
Cog-LAB operates on a mobile device, and, unlike conventional assessments, it can be used in various settings including at bed testing and group testing.
Cog-LAB design and content of tasks consider auditory and visual needs of patients, and cultural differences.
Improve Sustainability and Longevity
In contrast to conventional assessments, Cog-LAB is paper and plastic-free, and does not require any single-use items. Due to multiple versions of the test, it can be used more than once with the same person. This makes it stand out from currently used tests, which have two parallel versions at best.
Cog-LAB is the future of cognitive testing. It offers solution to current challenges in cognitive assessment and addresses limitation of conventional tests.
Reduce costs for service providers
Administration of Cog-LAB takes several times less time than assessment with conventional tests and doesn’t require as much post-assessment time for scoring and writeup of the report. Cog-LAB will utilise AI for scoring and production of cognitive recommendations tailored to patient’s lifestyle and needs. It requires far less time of highly specialised staff, and can be used by any allied health profession and researchers who don’t have expertise in cognitive testing.
Our Team
Anna Zolubak | Entrepreneurial Lead (EL)
Anna is a lecturer in Psychology and Neuroscience based in the Institute of Social Sciences at Sheffield Hallam University. Anna’s research interests are in Health Studies with focus on degenerative age-related conditions and vision. Anna is leading in the phase of product development drawing on her experience of working on tech development project, experience of engaging with public and patients, and her knowledge of neuropsychological assessment.
Lynne Barker | Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA)
Lynne is an Associate Professor in Cognitive Neuroscience based at the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre and Centre for Behavioural Science and Applied Psychology at Sheffield Hallam University. She is a scientist, teacher, writer, innovator and entrepreneur. Lynne’s research focuses on technological innovation for NHS users and new diagnostic techniques, biomarkers and interventions in concussion, stroke, traumatic brain injury and movement disorder conditions.
Georgia H | Technology Transfer Officer (TTO)
Georgia is based at Research and Innovation Office at Sheffield Hallam University and she has supported projects across the university, i.e. at various stages of ICURe programmes.
Share Your Insights
Help us revolutionise cognitive assessment! Take our quick survey and share your experiences with current cognitive testing. Your feedback will directly shape Cog-LAB to better meet the needs of clinicians and patients.