MCI who converted to Alzheimer's disease dementia.The four groups they compared were individuals with Subjective cognitive decline is when individuals are concerned about their thinking and memory, but both cognition and function are normal.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is when there is cognitive impairment, but function is normal.Dementia is when cognitive impairment leads to impaired function.Before I describe the groups, let me explain a few terms: They compared their SAGE test to the MMSE.īased on both initial and follow-up clinic visits, they divided their clinic population into four groups. To answer this question, the authors performed a retrospective chart review on 655 individuals seen in their memory disorders clinic, with a follow-up of up to 8.8 years. What was not known, however, is how well SAGE would be able to predict who would develop Alzheimer's disease or another cause of dementia. The test, the Self-Administered Gerocognitive Examination (SAGE), has compared favorably to clinician-administered tests such as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), as well as to standard neuropsychological testing. The results can then be used to determine whether additional work up and/or referral to a specialist is indicated. Individuals can take this test in the privacy of their own home and bring the results with them to the office. This concept of a self-administered cognitive test can solve the problem of the time-crunched primary care provider. In 2010, clinicians at the division of cognitive neurology in The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center developed a cognitive test to screen for memory loss that individuals can self-administer. So how are we going to diagnose the increasing numbers of individuals with Alzheimer's and other dementias in the next few decades? A self-administered test can screen for memory loss Even a simple test like the Mini-Cog (clock drawing and three words to remember) is too long for them. Primary care providers will need take the lead.Īlthough this may sound like the obvious and simple solution, my friends who are primary care providers remind me that they barely have time to do the basics - like blood pressure and diabetes management - and that they have no time to administer fancy cognitive tests. There are simply not enough neurologists, psychiatrists, geriatricians, neuropsychologists, and other specialists to diagnose these individuals with cognitive decline and dementia. It is estimated that worldwide there are more than 55 million people living with Alzheimer's disease and other causes of dementia, and this number is estimated to rise to 78 million by 2030 and 139 million by 2050.

Cognitive assessments pass moca