An interventional study of ToolboxDetect in Cognitive Dysfunction and Dementia, sponsored by Northwestern University. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 65 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-25.
Sponsored by Northwestern University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Screening
Our study objective is to widely implement and evaluate a user-centered, scalable, electronic health record (EHR)-linked strategy for the routine detection of cognitive decline among diverse primary care settings. This strategy, called ToolboxDetect, will provide an efficient and sensitive cognitive screen that can be easily implemented in everyday clinical settings, and is responsive to patient, family, and caregiver concerns for potential symptoms of cognitive decline (CD) and cognitive impairment (CI).
Our study objective is to widely implement and evaluate a user-centered, scalable, electronic health record (EHR)-linked strategy for the routine detection of cognitive decline among diverse primary care settings. We will conduct a large-scale, primary care practice-randomized trial to implement and comprehensively evaluate ToolboxDetect as a standard of care with AWVs, linked to an EHR (Epic). Diverse, academic and community settings are included to optimize future dissemination efforts.
ToolboxDetect is an iPad-based, self-administered assessment that leverages two well validated measures from the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery: Dimensional Change Card Sorting (for executive function) and the Picture Sequence Memory (for episodic memory). It takes approximately 7-8 minutes to administer, and for practices randomized to the ToolboxDetect arm, this will be used as the practice standard to fulfill the requirement for cognitive testing as part of the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV).
The aims of our investigation are to:
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Exclusion Criteria:
1. Severe, uncorrectable vision or hearing impairment
All practices randomized to the intervention arm will implement the ToolboxDetect battery as the standard of care routine cognitive assessment to fulfill the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) requirement. The 7-8 minute ToolboxDetect battery contains self-administered versions of the NIH ToolBox Picture Sequence Memory Test (PSM) and the NIH ToolBox Dimensional Change Card Sorting (DCCS). PSM measures episodic memory and DCCS tests executive functioning. The validated ToolboxDetect application will be imparted either as an application on an iPad or on a PC desktop/laptop computer commonly found in a clinical exam room for EHR access.
Other: ToolboxDetect
At Northwestern Medicine, cognitive assessments included in Annual Wellness Visits or other routine or sick/problem-based visits vary by practice and also by clinician. However, the choice of test was limited to either a Mini-Cog©, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), or Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE). While we will not make any explicit recommendations to these practices with regard to their use of a cognitive assessment, we will ensure that 1) any chosen test is linked to an Epic SmartData element, which will allow the clinician to record the results of the test as discrete data (which can then be queried), and that 2) providers receive a compiled list of local medical and non-medical referrals for any detected cases of CI. The Alzheimer's Association recommendations for early detection efforts among primary care practices will also be provided to each clinic's medical leadership.
The clinician or staff member will identify the patient by either scanning a barcode or entering his/her name, age and medical record number on an administrative screen (allowing for proper routing of test results). After completing the test, a 'submit' button will automatically generate a secure HL7 message, sharing 1) a binary classification of the results ('impaired cognition' or 'normal function'), 2) the quantitative ToolboxDetect score, and 3) brief clinical decision support to rule out any reversible causes. These results will be linked to a discrete, queriable, Epic SmartData element. As patients undergo multiple AWVs over time, ToolboxDetect quantitative scores will be displayed in Epic Synopsis Activity, a graphical display that can visualize trend data (e.g. patient vitals) and calculate a percentage change from the prior year. This will allow a clinician to establish a patient's own baseline (instead of using normative data only) for reference.
Rate of detected impairment
This will be operationalized as either results of an any administered cognitive test suggesting impairment ('detected'), or having any relevant ICD 10 classification code recorded in a patient's record after the trial launch date and throughout follow-up observation period ('diagnosis').
Time frame: Up to 3 years
Rate of cognitive testing
Extraction from the enterprise data warehouse (EDW) of elements used to document cognitive assessment
Time frame: Up to 3 years
Rate of detected cases with mild impairment
Mild vs. other impairment rates will be compared across trial arms, operationalized by ICD code groupings.
Time frame: Up to 3 years
Rate of cognition-related referrals
Extraction from the electronic data warehouse for whether or not a cognitive-related referral was made (medical or non-medical) following a "detected" cognitive screen
Time frame: Up to 3 years
Caregiver involvement
Text search of clinic note from any follow-up visit post AWV, wellness visit mention of accompanying family member/caregiver; extraction from EDW to determine if proxy access to patient's MyChart portal has been shared.
Time frame: Up to 3 years
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
This study is completed, as verified in Mar 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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