Scientists Develop a Simple, Self-Administered Test for Alzheimer’s

Rebecca Lewis January 15, 2014

Researchers from Ohio State University Wexner Medical Centre have developed a simple test that can be used in screening large numbers of people in communities for mental health problems, particularly cognitive loss or dementia.

Researchers went to 45 community events and asked people to take the Self-Administered Gerocognitive Examination (SAGE test) – a pen-and-paper test that can gauge their risk of dementia. Participants in the study were older people ages 50 and above who have been recruited from a variety of community locations and events, including senior care centres, independent and assisted-living facilities, and health fairs. Of the 1047 people who took the test 28 per cent were identified with cognitive impairment. In an earlier research, the Ohio State team found that 80 per cent with mild thinking and memory (cognitive) issues will be detected by this test, and 95 percent of people without issues will have normal SAGE scores.

According to Dr. Douglas Scharre, director of the Division of Cognitive Neurology and Memory Disorders Research Centre at Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Centre, Alzheimer’s and dementia are more effective when started in the earliest stage of the disease. He said the test can be taken at home by patients, who can then share the results with their physicians to help spot early symptoms of cognitive issues such as early dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

"What we found was that this SAGE self-administered test correlated very well with detailed cognitive testing," Scharre said. "If we catch this cognitive change really early, then we can start potential treatments much earlier than without having this test."

Whilst the test could not diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, it allows doctors to get a baseline of cognitive function in their patients, so they can follow them for these problems over time. "We can give them the test periodically and, the moment we notice any changes in their cognitive abilities, we can intervene much more rapidly," Scharre said.

"Hopefully, this test will help change those situations," Scharre said. "We are finding better treatments, and we know that patients do much better if they start the treatments sooner than later."

Source of this article:

SAGE Test Useful to Screen for Memory Disorders in Community Settings, Ohio State Study Show