Cognitive Testing
Reviewed
Also called: cognitive assessment, cognitive screening, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA test, Mini-Mental State Exam, MMSE test (Mini-Mental State Exam, MMSE, Mini-Cog, and Mini-Cog are considered separate tests but are often grouped under cognitive testing)
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.
Specimen: none
Why this test may be ordered
- To screen for signs of cognitive impairment, such as memory loss, confusion, or difficulty with language.
- To monitor changes in brain function over time, especially in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or known risk factors for dementia.
Preparation and collection
No special preparations are needed for this test.
questionnaire
According to the MedlinePlus source, there are no known risks associated with cognitive testing. The test involves answering questions and performing simple tasks, and does not involve any physical procedures.
Understanding results
Your healthcare provider will interpret your cognitive test score in the context of your overall health. The test results alone cannot diagnose a specific condition but can indicate whether further evaluation is needed.
- Normal: Screen-negative: Your test score is within the normal range. This means no significant cognitive impairment was detected, but it does not rule out mild problems. Limitation: A normal score does not guarantee normal brain function. Some cognitive impairment may not be detected by this test. Next step: If you or your family still have concerns about your thinking or memory, discuss with your provider the possibility of taking a different cognitive test.
- Lower than normal: Screen-positive: Your test score is lower than normal. This suggests some level of cognitive impairment that requires further investigation. Limitation: This result is not a diagnosis. It only indicates that you have a higher likelihood of cognitive impairment. Next step: Your provider will likely recommend further evaluation, which may include a referral to a neurologist, longer neuropsychological testing, and/or additional tests to look for treatable causes.
- 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.
- Please remember a short list of words and repeat them later.
- Copy a drawing of a shape or object.
- Name animals shown in pictures.
- State the current date.
- Count backward from a given number (e.g., 100 minus 7 repeatedly). Identify everyday objects (e.g., a pencil, watch). Recall a three-word list after a short delay.