Major neurocognitive disorders, notably Alzheimer's disease (AD), pose a substantial societal and economic burden, projecting a significant global healthcare cost. Recognizing the necessity for early detection, this project explores non-invasive tools, such as eye trackers, frequently overlooked in clinical diagnostics [1]. The research focuses on understanding cognitive processes by utilizing gaze metrics to distinguish between individuals with healthy cognitive function and those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Since MCI lacks sufficient exploration, a comprehensive investigation is vital. Therefore, the project combins two decision-making tasks (Shopping and Liking) [2] and a recall task to study visual scanning patterns in older adults, addressing real-world cognitive challenges. This ongoing study aims to illuminate the pathophysiology of information search processes in older adults with MCI, contributing to enhanced clinical diagnosis and early AD monitoring. As translational clinical practices evolve to incorporate gaze metrics as potential biomarkers, the proposed paradigm holds promise for influencing future healthcare practices. Additionally, it highlights eye trackers as valuable tools, offering practical benefits for routine clinical procedures and supporting traditional diagnostic methods [3].

[1] Wolf, A., and Ueda, K. (2021) Contribution of eye-tracking to study cognitive impairments among clinical populations. 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.590986
[2] Wolf A, Ounjai K, Takahashi M, Kobayashi S, Matsuda T and Lauwereyns J (2019) Evaluative Processing of Food Images: Longer Viewing for Indecisive Preference Formation. 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00608
[3] Wolf A, Tripanpitak K, Umeda S and Otake-Matsuura M (2023) Eye-tracking paradigms for the assessment of mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review. 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1197567