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What is a cognitive test? -

A cognitive test checks for problems with your mental function, meaning how your brain processes thoughts. The test is also called a cognitive screening test or cognitive assessment.

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What is cognition? -

Cognition is your brain’s ability to process all the information it takes in from your senses. Cognition involves intellectual activities, including thinking, reasoning, remembering, and understanding and using language.

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Signs you might need a cognitive test -

Cognitive tests are usually done if there's a suspicion of mental decline or impairment. It may have been noticed by yourself, a close friend, or a family member.

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Short-term memory loss -

This can include forgetting recently learned information like important dates or events and asking the same questions repeatedly. 

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New problems with words while speaking or writing -

This can include having trouble following or joining a conversation, stopping in the middle of a conversation, and having no idea how to continue.

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Confusion about time and place -

People living with Alzheimer's or dementia can lose track of dates, seasons, and the passage of time. They might even forget who they are.

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Difficulty completing regular daily tasks -

A common sign includes not remembering how to drive to a familiar location, inability to organize a grocery list, or forgetting the rules of a favorite game.

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Challenges in planning or solving problems -

This could present itself in the inability to follow a familiar recipe or difficulty keeping track of monthly bills.

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Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships. -

Some people may experience vision changes, which can lead to difficulty with balance or trouble reading. 

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Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps -

Another highly frustrating sign: this involves putting things in unusual places or losing items without being able to find them again.

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Decreased or poor judgment -

Individuals living with dementia may experience changes in judgment or decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money or pay less attention to grooming or cleaning.

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Withdrawal from work or social activities -

As a result from changes in the ability to hold or follow a conversation, a person living with Alzheimer's or other dementia may withdraw from hobbies, social activities, or other engagements. 

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Changes in mood or personality -

Symptoms can include becoming confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful, or anxious. 

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What to expect when getting a cognitive test -

There are many different cognitive tests available, and your provider will pick the most relevant to you, depending on your situation. The most common tests include the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the mini-mental state exam (MMSE), and the mini-cog.

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Do you need to prepare for a cognitive screening test? -

You don't need to prepare for any of the cognitive tests, and there are no risks to taking them. If you’d like, you can always bring a friend or relative to keep you company.

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What kinds of questions and tasks are asked in cognitive tests? -

Although there are many different screening tests, each test checks one or more of the following information. 

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Knowledge of time, place, and person -

You'll most likely be asked about the current date, your location, and even your name.

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Attention and short-term learning -

During a test, it's common to be asked to remember a short list of items.

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Concentration -

You can even be asked to spell five-letter words forward and then backward.

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Short-term recall -

You might even need to recall objects you were shown or sounds you heard moments before.

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Short-term memory -

Testing your short-term memory, you'll need to describe an event that happened in the past day or two.

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Long-term memory -

Then you might also be asked to describe an event from the distant past.

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Abstract thinking -

You might also be asked about the relation between several objects or explain the meaning of a proverb or a common saying.

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Ability to use language -

There's a chance that you'll need to name objects and read, write, and repeat phrases.

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Perform mathematical functions -

During the test, you might be asked to subtract a certain number from a high number and continue subtracting the same number from that answer.

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Language comprehension -

You might also be asked to perform a simple task that includes a body part and an understanding of right and left. 

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Ability to understand the relationship between objects or people -

You can also be asked to draw a clock with its hands pointing to a specific time or draw a house.

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Perform a specific action -

There's a possibility that you might be asked to show how to brush your teeth.

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Assess judgment -

You might also listen to a situation and be asked what you'd do. For example, "If you saw an injured person, what would you do?"
Sources: (Cleveland Clinic) (Everyday Health) (Verywell Health) 
See also: Lifestyle changes you can make to help prevent dementia 

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