Early Dementia Testing can be Quick and Easy

One of the reasons that people avoid getting tested for the early signs of dementia is that they think it will be a time-consuming process. This belief could not be further from the truth. Firstly, all it takes to safely monitor your cognitive health is to complete a simple cognitive (mental) evaluation twice per year. Secondly, you do not even have to leave your own home to be professionally assessed.

In this discussion, we aim to provide you with a better understanding of the dementia testing process and its time requirements. It is important to be able to move past any hesitations you may have about getting tested for the early signs of dementia, especially if they are based on misinformation. With regular testing, you can have peace of mind and gain access to the benefits of early diagnosis should something be detected.

What is an “Early Dementia Test”?

Although scientific researchers continue to work towards diagnostic breakthroughs, Alzheimer’s disease and most other forms of dementia are only detectable in their earliest forms with a cognitive evaluation. These “early dementia tests” are based on extensive research findings and must be reviewed by a trained professional. They are composed of straight-forward questions and tasks that are designed to measure a variety of mental capabilities, especially those related to memory. These tests typically take less than half an hour to complete.

As you can see, the briefness of an early dementia test and the fact that they only need to be completed every 6 months means that time constraints are not a valid excuse for avoiding them. Even if you need to take public transit and sit in a doctor’s office for a few hours, the time required to safeguard your cognitive health is minuscule within the context of a lifetime.

A Quick Test gets Quicker

Image via Pixabay

Admittedly, some people could make a good argument that they cannot spend several hours in a single day attending an appointment for an early dementia test due to their personal circumstances, even if it is only twice per year. Luckily for them, and for anyone else who is interested in optimizing their time, there is the BrainTest® app.

Based on the SAGE test, which is a commonly used cognitive evaluation for the early signs of dementia, the BrainTest® app can provide anyone with instant access to a professional assessment at any time, in any place. The test only takes about 15 minutes and can be completed electronically using any supported device. It completely eliminates the need to spend any time traveling or waiting in an office. Within three days of testing, a helpful video will be made available in which a professional explains the results. Should anything be detected, the results can be taken to the test taker’s own doctor for a thorough follow-up.

Legitimate Time Concerns

The amount of time it takes to get tested should not be considered an obstacle to detecting the early signs of dementia, especially with the availability of self-assessment tools like BrainTest®. However, a real problem is the amount of time it takes for people to make the decision to get tested. It is never too early to get tested, and putting it off can rob a person of precious time that could be spent exploring treatment options, enjoying life, and making plans, should an early form of dementia be detected.