Expert: Mary Gordon - 6/3/2005

Question
Is there any cognitive screening (online or elsewhere) that I can take on my own, without going to a doctor?

Thanks

Jo

Answer
Jo, if you honestly think your mind is slipping, you really do need to see a doctor. I don't have to tell you there are many, many things that can impair memory, cause confusion, cognitive difficulties and even delusions OTHER than Alzheimer's. These include common problems like thyroid issues, pernicious anemia, depression, drug side effects or interactions, small strokes, tumours, hormonal imballances, blood sugar problems and a huge long laundry list of other things.

Just to give you an example, I have a thyroid problem (Hashimoto's disease) that results in hypothyroidism. It can sneak up on you over a period of several years, and is very common in women - and prior to my diagnosis, I swear to you I thought I was losing my mind. I just wasn't myself at all, and one of the major symptoms can only be described as brain fog. It was completely treatable, and once I got diagnosed and onto the right medication, things turned around quite quickly.  

When a doctor is looking into symptoms that appear as impaired mental abilities, the usual drill is a full physical, assorted blood tests, sometimes a CAT scan or MRI, a review of history and medications - because something like Alzheimer's is only diagnosed by ruling out everything else it might be. Next step would be a referral to a neurologist or psychiatrist with a dementia specialty to do further assessements.

Another reason not to try and figure this out on your own is that if your mind IS impaired in any way, you may not be able to correctly administer a test or interpret the results - so you will either scare yourself for no good reason, or possibly falsely reassure yourself when you really should be alarmed. If your mind is impaired, you can't trust your own perceptions.  One hallmark of people with Alzheimer's is that they rarely have insight into their own impairments - they are often oblivious or misinterpret problems that seem quite clear and apparent to those around them. Sometimes its due to their own denial, but more often its due to the brain impairment itself.

If you are worrying, you should get some real answers - that is a much more positive approach, and more likely to get to the bottom of your concerns.

Having said that, here is an example of a commonly used screening test
https://www.utmb.edu/psychology/MiniMental.htm
and also this one (drawing clock faces - this one was used by our family doctor in his initial screen of my mother in law)
http://www.neurosurvival.ca/ClinicalAssistant/scales/clock_drawing_test.htm

Mental impairment often has treatable causes, but many times its very important to catch the cause early, so call your doctor! Don't try to struggle alone, and make yourself anxious worrying - get some answers. Its always better to deal with facts rather than fears.

Mary G.