Dementia is a life-changing diagnosis for the individual experiencing symptoms and their loved ones. With more than 982,000 people currently experiencing dementia symptoms in the UK alone, early diagnosis is essential for effective management plans and emotional support.
Dementia care has been widely researched for over two decades to gain a deeper understanding of the disease and identify patterns of behaviour that may lead to the development of treatments that can enhance quality of life. Today, we’ll explore seven current diagnostic tests your doctor may use to determine your risk of developing dementia.
1. Motor Screening Task
The Motor Screening Task, often referred to as an MOT, is a diagnostic test used to assess your general ability to understand and complete tasks. It can help identify any hearing or sensorimotor difficulties that may affect your cognition.
The Motor Screening Task test utilises iPad technology to better assess your ability, which can also help you become accustomed to using a touchscreen. This is a useful tool for communicating your needs with loved ones in the future.
What Does the Task Involve?
You’ll be given an iPad with a dark screen. A series of flashing crosses will appear, creating a visual stimulus. You’ll be asked to press the cross as quickly as possible, measuring your motor response and accuracy.
2. Spatial Working Memory
Spatial Working Memory focuses on how effectively your brain retains information and utilises visuospatial information. This is the brain’s way of processing and understanding visual details, shapes, and their arrangement and relationships in space.
This form of testing also requires you to employ a strategy, which provides insight into your executive function. Both of these attributes are often impaired by dementia, so the SPW test can provide beneficial insights into your risk factors.
What Does the Task Involve?
You’ll be given a screen with an array of coloured tokens, which you’ll need to search for in several boxes. As the test progresses, more boxes appear, making it more difficult. You’re not allowed to touch a box that you’ve already found a token in, which tests your memory and focus.
3. Rapid Visual Information Processing
A Rapid Visual Information (RVI) test indicates how well you can sustain your visual attention and your effectiveness in coping with a task that requires continuous performance. People with dementia might find it difficult to hold such forms of attention for a prolonged period of time.
What Does the Task Involve?
On the screen, you’ll see single digits appear in the middle. 100 digits will be shown per minute, and a panel to the right of the digit will display target sequences which you’ll need to respond to.
Once you’ve detected a sequence, you must press a blue button at the bottom of your screen. During this test, there will be nine target sequences to detect every minute.
4. Pattern Recognition Memory
Pattern Recognition Memory (PRM) tests how well your memory can recognise patterns in a forced discrimination paradigm of two choices. The neurological underpinnings of impaired memory pattern recognition in early dementia may be a result of the thinning parahippocampal gyri.
What Does the Task Involve?
You’ll be given a sequence of non-verbalisable patterns. During your recognition phase, you’ll be required to choose between a pattern you’ve already seen and a new one. This may be asked of you immediately after seeing the initial patterns, or your doctor may delay the choice section to increase the test’s difficulty.
5. Delayed Matching to Sample
During a Delayed Matching to Sample (DMS) test, you’ll work on your visual recognition memory and short-term visual memory. These are carefully measured by assessing your ability to perform simultaneous and delayed matching tasks, working with various visual stimuli.
What Does the Task Involve?
You’ll be shown a number of non-verbalisable patterns and be asked to match one of four options shown below. The test will measure your ability to accurately and quickly match patterns, which will become progressively more difficult as you work through it.
The sample pattern may be hidden from view or displayed alongside the choices, depending on the level of difficulty your doctor wants you to complete.
6. Reaction Time
A Reaction Time (RTI) test measures how quickly and accurately you can react to stimuli, both in terms of your mental and motor response speed, as well as vigilance. Response times tend to slow down due to the decline in the brain’s processing speed and neural efficiency that is triggered by dementia.
The test can also indicate whether you have issues of impulsivity by pressing stimuli before it’s been shown. Your doctor may be able to see patterns of premature or preservative responding, which can increase as dementia progresses.
What Does the Task Involve?
You’ll be instructed to press and hold a button at the bottom of your screen until a dot appears in a circle. As soon as you see the circle, you must press it. This measures your reaction time to visual stimuli.
This test may be done with one circle appearing at a time (simple RTI) or five circles (five-choice RTI). For the latter, only one of the circles will include a dot, which you must identify accurately.
7. Paired Associates Learning (PAL)
PAL is used as a diagnostic tool to test your visual associative learning and memory. This provides your healthcare professional with insight into your episodic memory abilities, which involve the conscious recollection of prior experiences with context (such as time and place).
Episodic memory is often impaired in people with dementia, and this test has been found to be one of the best at predicting later stages of several types of dementia in patients with mild cognitive impairments.
What Does the Task Involve?
You’ll watch a screen where boxes will pop up around the edges. In a random order, each box will open once to reveal either a pattern or nothing. At least one box will contain a pattern.
After all boxes have been opened, the patterns will be shown one at a time in the centre of the screen. You’ll be asked to press the boxes that contain each pattern. The test becomes progressively more difficult as you continue matching patterns.
What Do the Results Tell Us?
Your doctor may use one or several of the above diagnostic tests to create an accurate diagnosis of dementia. Each test works in a slightly different way, but the results indicate your cognitive abilities, memory and reaction times.
Studies have shown that dementia can take years to progress enough for symptoms to begin affecting daily life. The longer a person waits between the onset of symptoms and a diagnosis, the more difficult it may be to create an effective management system.
While the results of these diagnostic tests cannot guarantee a dementia diagnosis, specific markers are identified to indicate the associated risks based on certain scores. Multiple tests indicating a reduction in thinking and memory skills may help your doctor come to an accurate decision on your dementia diagnosis, including the current stage and future prognosis.
Why Is an Early Diagnosis of Dementia Important?
Early dementia diagnosis is essential for ensuring you get the correct treatments to manage symptoms, slow progression and access vital support services. The sooner you and your loved ones receive a diagnosis, the quicker you can begin planning for your future care needs.
There are several reasons why early diagnosis is so important, including:
- More time to access treatments and support: The earlier you’re diagnosed with dementia, the quicker you and your healthcare team can explore certain medications, therapies and support groups to improve symptoms.
- An explanation for symptoms: If you and your family have been worrying about symptoms, an explanation can provide relief and help you see a clearer future.
- Helps you and your loved ones plan for the future: Early diagnosis gives you more time to discuss care options and your preferences regarding where you want to live, with whom, and your independence.
- Potential for slower progression: You may be able to slow the progression of dementia down with certain interventions, lifestyle changes and treatments for dementia.
- Gives you time to get your affairs in order: The extra time you have can be used to appoint a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), organise your will, and discuss finances with a trusted loved one.
- Reduces stress: The later your dementia diagnosis, the less time you’ll have to come to terms with the future. Diagnostic tests can reduce stress for you and your loved ones by giving you more time and options.
- Home care options: An early dementia diagnosis means you can look into live-in and visiting dementia care at home, rather than having to move into an unknown care home.
To learn more, keep reading our helpful guide on living well in the early stages of dementia.
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