Digital episodic memory tools for the identification of amnestic mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review and an exploratory meta-analysis

• Traditional tests often miss early subtle signs of aMCI. • Episodic memory tasks aid in detecting early deficits better than other tests. • No previous review has assessed digital episodic memory tools for aMCI diagnosis. • Meta-analysis (n = 510) shows a pooled sensitivity was 0.78 (95% CI: 0.65–0.87), specificity of 0.79 (95% CI: 0.66–0.89), and AUC of 0.86 for aMCI diagnosis. • Digital tasks offer scalable alternatives to traditional neuropsychological assessments. • Further standardisation and methodological validation are urgently needed.