Unlock Your Brain’s Potential with 5 Essential Fitness Tests

Brain Fitness Test: The Power of Three Simple Words

Banana. Sunrise. Chair. By saying these three words aloud and committing them to memory, you’re taking the first step in assessing your brain’s fitness. This is just one of the standard techniques that medical professionals use to evaluate cognitive function.

Despite advancements in modern science and its ability to treat a wide range of illnesses, medical professionals still face challenges when searching for effective tests or treatments for age-related brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s. However, we now have access to various tools that can help measure our cognitive well-being.

Assessing Cognitive Function, Not Intelligence

The four most popular cognitive assessments aren’t designed to measure intelligence or peak mental performance. Instead, their focus is to evaluate lower-end brain function and highlight early signs of cognitive decline that may require further attention. These tests evaluate memory, spatial perception, and executive function (planning and decision-making skills), which can dwindle with age.

These cognitive assessments can be incredibly helpful if you or people close to you have concerns about cognitive function. Dr Soo Borson, a professor of clinical family medicine at the University of Southern California, recommends undergoing an evaluation in such cases.

Cognition Tests: From Mini-Cog to MoCA

One of the most commonly administered cognitive assessments is the Mini-Cog, devised by Dr Borson. This quick test involves a three-word recall and a clock drawing test, taking less than three minutes to complete. There are several other prevalent cognition tests, including MoCA and SAGE, and a digital version of MoCA, known as XpressO, is set to be released soon.

MoCA, while being the most rigorous of these evaluations, is still a simple test consisting of just 30 questions and takes about 15 minutes to complete. However, as Dr Hyun-Sik Yang, a neurologist at Harvard Medical School, points out, it is not a comprehensive measure of cognitive ability as it relates to complex tasks such as driving or leading a nation.

Using Cognitive Tests to Establish a Baseline

It’s important to note that despite their value, these tests do not offer a direct diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or other cognitive impairments. What they can provide, however, is a baseline of an individual’s cognitive function, which can then be monitored over time. Any significant change in test results could indicate that further testing, like brain scans or blood tests, might be necessary. It’s also worth noting that poor performance on cognitive tests can be due to factors such as medication side effects, vitamin deficiencies, or certain illnesses, all of which can be ruled out through more comprehensive examinations.

Medicare and Cognitive Testing

For individuals 65 and older with Medicare Part B, Medicare covers cognitive testing as part of the annual wellness checkup. However, only one in four Medicare recipients typically take the test. With the advent of new drugs to treat dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease, experts like Dr Borson believe the number of individuals opting for these tests will increase.

Common Challenges in Cognitive Assessments