Cognitive Screening: When Should You Get It? What Can It Show?

Cognitive screening is a pivotal step in understanding how well your brain is functioning for your age, leading to potentially detecting signs of memory loss or dementia early on. You may be wondering about who needs this, and how might you be able to go about being tested, if you are concerned about your or another’s cognitive health. 

Fear not; this guide is tailored to demystify cognitive screening, empowering you to make informed decisions about your cognitive well-being.

Understanding Cognitive Screening Tests

Cognitive screening evaluates abilities like memory, attention, processing speed, language, reasoning, and visual perception. Standardised tests like the Mini-Mental State Exam are commonly used by medical doctors to screen for immediate difficulties with cognition. If required more thorough cognitive testing can be undertaken by a Clinical Neuropsychologist, which can help with diagnosis or better understanding of cognitive difficulties.

The screening tests take about five to ten minutes and consist of a series of questions and tasks. For more thorough testing, these tests can take up to two hours

Who Should Get Cognitive Screening

The Alzheimer’s Association advises baseline cognitive screening at age 65, with earlier initiation recommended for individuals with risk factors such as a family history of dementia or high blood pressure, starting at the age of 60.

It’s prudent to seek screening if you observe potential symptoms of dementia like memory loss impeding daily activities or confusion Some symptoms like loss of balance and disorientation can also hint towards early dementia.

Timing Your Cognitive Screening

Get baseline results when you’re still cognitively healthy so you can compare against future scores.

Depending on your age and risk factors, rescreening every one to three years is prudent. More frequent screening may be needed if you’re experiencing potential symptoms.

What to Expect During the Testing Process

During a standard cognitive screening, you’ll be asked to complete simple tasks like memorising words, drawing figures, recalling details, interpreting images, and basic calculations.

Don’t stress if you can’t answer everything perfectly. The exercises are meant to assess a range of everyday cognitive skills. Clinicians want to see how well you can do, rather than what you can’t do, so if you just do your best then this is all they are after. 

In some dementias, the person with dementia is not aware of the difficulties they are experiencing so clinicians will rely on informants who know the person to support answering some of the questions, such as helping understand the timeline of cognitive difficulties. 

Don’t forget to bring your reading glasses and any hearing aids to the appointment!

Interpreting Your Cognitive Screening Results

Raw scores are calculated and then compared to what you would be expected to perform at based on your age and education level. Higher scores denote superior function, while lower scores may prompt further scrutiny. A significant decline over time on subsequent assessments is worth a discussion with your doctor.

Often if cognitive tests show a decline from expected scores then this may indicate further investigation is recommended. Usually, as cognition declines, everyday functioning is also affected. Keep an eye on changes to your daily functioning, as this can be important to tell your doctor. 

Using Cognitive Screening Results to Guide Your Care

If your cognitive screening scores are normal for your age, you should keep up your brain-healthy habits like physical activity, socialising, and mental exercises. Low or declining scores may indicate an underlying issue like dementia. Your doctor can order diagnostic tests, such as looking at certain proteins in the fluid that surrounds your brain and spine, or using a PET scan, and can then make treatment recommendations.

Although there might not be a cure for certain neurological diseases, like dementia, starting on medication, better understanding care needs and planning for the future can be paramount in ensuring quality of life is maintained. 

Give Your Family the Care they Deserve

The takeaway? Cognitive screening is a simple, effective way to benchmark and monitor your thinking skills. Don’t hesitate to get screened, especially if you’re over 60 or notice cognitive changes. Early assessment leads to optimal care. If you have any concerns, ask your doctor about scheduling a cognitive screening test for peace of mind.

At the Live in Care Company, we believe your relatives should have the highest quality care and support in their golden years. We allocate only the best carers. For more information on how we can transform your family’s life, please get in touch.