Dementia could be spotted sooner with this half-hour test: study

A relatively brief logic and memory assessment could become pivotal in spotting dementia sooner, scientists said.

The University of Cambridge’s Dr. Timothy Rittman created a 30-minute test for problem-solving capabilities, reaction times and number sequencing through card matching — all of which may spot symptoms of the neurological disorder up to 10 years ahead of the usual diagnosis, the Times reported.

The testing also shows how outlying health conditions may come into play with contracting dementia, according to study leader Dr. Nol Swaddiwudhipong.

“This is a step toward us being able to screen people who are at greatest risk — for example, people over 50 or those who have high blood pressure or do not do enough exercise — and intervene at an earlier stage to help them reduce their risk.”

“When we looked back at patients’ histories, it became clear that they were showing some cognitive impairment several years before their symptoms became obvious enough to prompt a diagnosis,” he added. “The impairments were often subtle, but [they were seen] across a number of aspects of cognition.”

About 500,000 patients — between the ages of 40 to 69 in the UK — underwent the tests from Rittman and his team. In addition to cognitive skills, reaction times and grip strength in patients were also recorded in the study.

Participants also had to solve as many logic problems as possible in two minutes.

One memory test — also known as the card game Snap! — involved subjects matching face down cards shown on a computer screen in the quickest amount of time possible and with the fewest attempts. The first round featured three pairs in a six-second period. The average person made two errors while those at risk of Alzheimer’s often made three.

Another examination was done by showing people a two-digit number before it vanished; the number would extend a digit as rounds furthered. In that case, most people could remember seven numbers whereas six was the average for people who developed Alzheimer’s.

However, low testing results don’t necessarily mean people should panic, according to Rittman.

“Even some healthy individuals will naturally score better or worse than their peers,” he said. “But we would encourage anyone who has any concerns or notices that their memory or recall is getting worse to speak to their [general practitioner].”