![]() There might be a fixable problem, like depression or medication side effects. 'Can't be evaluated with a snap of a finger'įailing doesn't mean someone has dementia. Recalling a list of five words after five minutes of doing other tasks - or coming up with at least 11 words that begin with "F" in a minute - can assess short-term memory and language functions. Subtracting backward assesses things like attention and concentration. Someone with even very mild cognitive impairment is much more likely to draw a wobbly clock, or aim the hands wrong, than someone who's healthy. Ranit Mishori, professor of family medicine at Georgetown University.ĭrawing a clock, and putting the right time on it, is a classic evaluation of how the brain comprehends spatial relationships. "It's not a diagnostic test, but it's pretty sensitive in picking up subtle changes in cognition," things involving memory, attention and language but not mental health issues, said Dr. MoCA was created by Lebanese-Canadian neurologist, Ziad Nasreddine.įor all their apparent simplicity, 10-minute quizzes like the Montreal Cognitive Assessment offer doctors a snapshot of someone's memory and certain other neurologic functions. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment - MoCa for short - is one of a list of similar tests that all aim to tap into specific functions. David Knopman, a Mayo Clinic neurologist who chairs the Alzheimer's Association's medical and scientific advisory council.Īnd people should understand that "it's not considered definitive," he said. "It's ultimately only a first pass at cognition." "The value of screening without a complaint has not been established," cautioned Dr. So who really needs a cognitive assessment? They're usually offered only if there are concerns about memory or other cognitive functions - concerns noticed either by the patient, a relative or the doctor. Trump's doctor says he didn't see any symptoms that would prompt the test but that the president, who has faced questions about his mental acuity, requested it. ![]() They're not a routine part of check-ups, either for a president or a not-so-famous senior. How an immigrant to Canada helped Donald Trump prove his mental stateįor all their apparent simplicity, 10-minute quizzes like the Montreal Cognitive Assessment offer doctors a snapshot of someone's memory and certain other neurologic functions, one piece of information to help determine if trouble's brewing.Donald Trump's overall health 'excellent,' MD says.They may not sound like difficult tasks, but they're part of a cognitive exam that's getting a lot of attention because U.S. Rattling off words that begin with "F" before a minute's up.
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