With certain tests, the different subtypes of dementia can be discovered as well (Alzheimer’s vs other types). Within “abnormal” results the doctor can distinguish whether dementia is mild, moderate, or severe. The formal, longer tests such as formal neuropsychological testing require a referral from your doctor to a center that performs such tests.Īfter these examinations, the doctor performing the tests will be able to interpret the results and categorize them into either “normal” or “abnormal” results. Most primary doctors are familiar with the MMSE and MOCA and may even perform them in their daily practice. It can be useful when tracking mild cognitive impairment over time to see if a patient is worsening or improving, before actually reaching the cognitive impairment threshold for dementia.įor the most part, the short tests are easy to access and are available online both to the general public and to doctors.
Neuropsychological testing can take up to six hours to complete and is not always required as part of a dementia evaluation.
Lastly, there is formal neuropsychological or neuropsychiatric testing which is very in-depth and is useful in patients who meet criteria for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or patients who score normally on the basic screening tests above but still have subtle or persistent cognitive symptoms.Īfter all, the testing requires the patient to be able to participate in complex tasks and questioning. This takes about 30 minutes to administer, and can specifically identify cognitive deficits characteristic of mild Alzheimer’s dementia.Īnother test, called the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (ACE), is also specifically designed for Alzheimer’s dementia and tracking progress. These are short (15 minutes) and these include the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease Neuropsychological Battery (CERAD-NP). The first type of tests are called mental status scales. Sometimes they are done to diagnose dementia they can also be used to track dementia over time. These tests can be done by a primary care doctor or internist often times they are also done by neurologists and psychologists. What Type of Doctor does Tests for Dementia? In this article, we will describe what these tests are and how they affect the diagnosis and testing for dementia. While imaging of the brain ( MRI, CT, PET) can provide insights into brain structure and some types of brain imaging can even show metabolic and blood flow function, cognitive tests directly observe performance in certain domains and remain essential in the diagnosis of dementia. The answer is, yes there are a host of cognitive tests for dementia that range from simple bedside tests that take a few minutes to perform to in-depth neuropsychiatric testing that can take a few hours. However, are there ways to formally and objectively assess this? Often, a patient or a family member has picked up on clues that there is a problem with cognition. There are a variety of ways doctors can test cognitive function in a person with dementia.
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