Systems for Early Screening and Longitudinal Monitoring of Age-Related Cognitive Changes in Non-Clinical Environments: A Conceptual and Methodological Framework

Background: Age-related cognitive changes often emerge gradually and remain undetected until functional impairment becomes clinically apparent. There is a growing need for scalable and non-invasive systems capable of monitoring cognitive changes outside of clinical environments. Objective: This paper presents a conceptual and methodological framework for systems designed to support early screening and longitudinal monitoring of age-related cognitive changes in non-clinical settings. Methods: The proposed framework integrates behavioral and interaction-based indicators collected during everyday digital activities. Cognitive-relevant signals are captured longitudinally and interpreted at a systems level to support early identification of meaningful changes over time. The framework emphasizes ecological validity, low user burden, and adaptability to diverse real-world contexts. Conclusions: Systems operating in non-clinical environments have the potential to complement traditional cognitive assessment approaches by enabling continuous, real-world monitoring. This framework provides guidance for the design of future cognitive monitoring technologies while maintaining non-invasive and user-centered principles.