Cognitive Testing
Reviewed
Cognitive testing checks for problems with thinking, learning, remembering, and using judgment and language. It involves answering questions and doing simple tasks, such as repeating lists of words, spelling words backwards, or drawing a clock. The results help your healthcare provider decide if more testing is needed to find the cause of cognitive issues.
Preparation and collection
No special preparations are needed for this test.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- A normal score does not rule out cognitive impairment. Some people with cognitive problems may score within the normal range.
- A lower-than-normal score indicates a higher likelihood of cognitive impairment but does not diagnose a specific cause. Further testing is needed to determine the underlying condition.
What to do next
If your score is lower than normal, your provider may refer you to a neurologist for longer neuropsychological testing. Additional tests (e.g., blood tests, imaging) may be ordered to identify treatable conditions such as vitamin deficiencies, thyroid problems, or infections.