Key eye-tracking metrics for the neuropsychological assessment of mild cognitive impairment: A scoping review protocol

AbstractObjective: The objective of this scoping review is to explore the application of eye tracking in theinvestigation of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). To this end, the most useful oculomotor cognitivetasks will be analysed and the correlations between specific metrics and different neuropsychologicaltests will be evaluated.Introduction: Eye tracking is a cutting-edge technology that holds potential as a digital biomarker forthe early identification of abnormal visual patterns in various neurological disorders. Although someresearch has linked mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to changes in eye movements, there are notablemethodological discrepancies among the existing studies.Inclusion criteria: Studies will be included if they meet the following criteria regarding participants,design, and setting: recruitment of people with MCI who are over 60 years of age; any eye-trackingparadigm administered using an ET screen; and any setting. No restrictions will be applied at the outsetof the literature search with regard to study design, publication type or data.Methods: This scoping review will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. Up to August 2025,the following databases will be searched: PubMed, Cochrane Central, EMBASE, Scopus and Web ofScience. Additional articles will be identified by searching grey literature and the reference lists of allrelevant included studies. Two reviewers will work independently to decide which studies to includeor exclude. They will conduct a thorough examination of all titles, abstracts, and full-text studies. Theresearch group will endeavour to extract the features of the included pieces of research using abespoke data collection form. A tabular and narrative summary will be prepared at the end of theprocess to present the gathered information.Keywords: Mild Cognitive Impairment, Dementia, Eye movements, Digital biomarker, Review, Protocol