Encourage a relative or friend to do a do at home dementia test if you suspect they maybe suffering from memory loss. Especially if they are reluctant to go to their GP for a check up. Encouraging them to take a simple do at home dementia test could help them realise they could have a problem.
The tests are simple clock drawing tests and word association tests. They can be used to show an individual that they have a problem with their memory. This can help encourage them to go to see their GP for further investigation.
Why Take a Test for Dementia?
It is crucial that the symptoms of memory loss are diagnosed as early as possible. This helps to get the best treatment possible. A do at home dementia test can help a person come to terms with the fact that they may be suffering from dementia.
By taking a simple do at home dementia test you should be able to determine if the person may have a problem with their memory. If they show signs if difficut during the test you should encourage them to seek further help fro their GP. There Doctor can then check for problems such as early stages of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
Dementia Tests You Can Do at Home
There is no one correct way that you can test for conditions like Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia without taking a medical test that a doctor can give. But you can do an easy memory test at home. The test may help give you an indication that something may be wrong with your, or somebody else’s memory. It helps differentiate between normal everyday forgetfulness that we sometimes get and something more serious.
- Philip C. Carter (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 212 Pages – 08/23/2005 (Publication Date) – John Wiley & Sons (Publisher)
Below we take a look at two ways that you can a do at home dementia test
Word Association Tests
Simple word tests can be used to help detect memory problems a person may have.
Our brain saves and stores all the words we learn during our lives in our memories which then allows us to recollect what a word means without thinking about it.
A person who is having difficulty remembering words or confusing their words could have a problem that is associated with their memory. Word association tests such as the one below seem to work well in detecting memory problems.
- Ask the individual taking the test to name all the animals they can think of in one minute.
- Ask the individual to name all the types of fruit they can remember in one minute.
Test Results – Research has found that a healthy individuals scoring should between 20 to 25 words in the time given whereas a person who may have memory problems usually scores between 10 – 15
The Clock Drawing Test
This is probably the best and most widely used do at home dementia test you or a person can take to help determine if an individual has a problem with their memory.
The clock drawing test is also widely used by GP’s and dementia specialists. They can be used to give a quick and simple early diagnosis that there could be a problem that warrants further investigation into the individuals memory.
The clock drawing test should be done on a blank piece of paper. Ideally an A4 size piece of paper that allows the person to draw freely.
- Ask the person to draw a clock
- Then ask the person to put in all the numbers onto the clock face
- Then ask the person to draw the hands onto the clock. Give them a time to set the
The dementia clock test results should be judged on the following points. You should award 1 point for each correct answer.
- How well the person drew the clock circle
- Has the person included all the numbers 1-12
- Are all the numbers drawn in the correct order on the clock face and in the correct place
- Did they draw 2 hands on the clock
- Does the hands on the clock say the correct time you asked them to draw
Dementia Clock Test Results
– A normal score for the test is four or five points. Anything less than four points should be a concern.
If you have any concerns about the results of any of the tests above you should seek further advice from your local GP doctor.
A new brain health check tool has been launched by Alzheimer’s Research UK with the help of evidence provided by the researchers at the University College London.
If you would like to use the tool to take the dementia test and help explore how healthy your brain is and help reduce the risk of dementia please use the link here – Think Brain Health Check-in
I must admit I’m curious about testing as above. Currently I can pass the 2 above without much problem. However, when the neurologist tested me on remembering 3 words (same ones each time but in different order) both times I missed 1 word (different word each time). A year ago I could remember 4 words without much problem. Unfortunately, anything somewhat complex I have problems with (think suduko, I have no clue anymore how to do even the simpler ones). I can no longer manage my finances well. Short term memory is terrible, long term is less so but there is some loss there as well. I often lose track of my conversations, totally forget what I was talking about in the middle of conversations. I also have anger control issues at times and I isolate more because of it because I find it terribly distressing. Add into this my maternal aunt was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s at 58, died at 68 from it. My maternal grandfather and uncle developed Alzheimer’s in their 80’s so rather late onset. So I am now 63 and have had increasing difficulties for, perhaps, the last 5-10 years and wonder if I should have more definative testing and if so, what tests? Any ideas out there about this?
Forgot to add in that my mother and other maternal uncle died tragically of suicide at relatively young ages and so we will never know if they might have developed it later on. Thanks.
Very hard for you to lose your Mother to suicide. I lost several acquaintances and a partner. The Samaritans were very helpful then and even suggested a counsellor which I tried. Time though is a greater healer as each time thought of the guilt and anger recedes. Am at the stage you describe; silly triggers like forgetting to remember where I placed my cup while washing my hands and finances have become a nightmare. Lack of sleep making it worse.
Hello Jeannie,
Sorry to hear you are experiencing these problems. What I would recommend is that you visit your doctor as soon as you can. Let them know the kind of problems you are having. There are also some helplines you can ring to discuss your worries with.
You can call the national dementia helpline on 0300 222 11 22. They can help get you some help.
Good luck and I wish you well
I am so scared that I have signs of dementia ! My mom died from complications due from dementia . She knew very people by name at the end! Thank you God she knew immediate family pretty well! So sad to see loved one like this!
I am 73 and feel like I am having memory problems and want to find out how to prevent this from happening
Hello Mary,
I’m sorry to hear this. There are a couple of helplines that you could ring and speak to somebody if you are feeling scared about being diagnosed with dementia.
There is the national dementia helpline, Telephone 0300 222 11 22
Dementiauk also provide a helpline. The number is 0800 888 6678
I hope these numbers help and I wish you all the best now and into the future.
So where do we find these tests?
Hello Chris. Thanks for the comment.
These are designed to be do-at-home dementia tests. We don’t provide them or recommend anywhere to buy them. You just need a pen and paper to take the do at home dementia tests.
In the future we are hoping to be able to provide a printable sheet with a simple test on there that you download or print off to make taking the dementia test easier.
Thanks again
yep not good cant do it
Hello Craig, I’m sorry to hear you can’t do the test. I’ve sent you some more details on other available tests you can try and my thoughts on what you can do.
Good luck
John