The Self - mete out Gerocognitive Exam , know as SAGE , is a shortsighted penitentiary - and - paper test to detect the early sign of cognitive , memory , or thinking impairment . The examination is entail to evaluate your thinking abilities and can aid your doctor understand how well your mental capacity is officiate .
[ 1 ]
“ Questions were designed to evaluate every part of a patient ’s learning ability , ” Dr. Scharre say .
If you notice memory or thinking problems, taking this pen-and-paper test can help identify potential issues.
The scoring for SAGE give equal free weight to questions that assess wit function for the front , back , and go away and right sides of the brain , so no area is overrepresented .
SAGE will not name any specific condition . It will not differentiate your doctor if you haveAlzheimer ’s diseaseor any other condition that can impact your thinking .
But it is a helpfulcognitive screeningtool — including formild cognitive impairment ( MCI)from any causal agency , as well as forearly - stage dementedness .
What Is Mild Cognitive Impairment?
MCI is a condition qualify by a pocket-size decline in mental abilities , according to the National Institute on Aging . These change are often obtrusive to the person see them , family fellow member , or close friends , but they are not severe enough to interfere with normal daily life and activities .
consort to the Alzheimer ’s Association , about 12 to 18 percentage of people age 60 or older have MCI .
People living with MCI are more probable to break Alzheimer ’s disease or other dementias . About 10 to 15 percent of individual with MCI go on to develop dementia each class , notes the Alzheimer ’s Association .
Symptoms of MCI are often vague but may admit the pursuit :
MCI does not always top to dementia . In some people , MCI retrovert to normal knowledge , while in others , the condition stabilizes and they experience no further cognitive declination .
There are no medication for MCI — unless it ’s determined to be anearly leg of Alzheimer ’s disease — but establish a diagnosing can be of import to help key and manage any progression of your symptom . In some suit , a diagnosing of MCI may help distinguish reversible or treatable reason of memory issue likedepression , slumber apnea , orhigh blood atmospheric pressure .
Are There Ways I Can Test My Thinking Ability and Memory on My Own?
How Does the SAGE Test Work?
SAGE pass judgment your thinking abilities by require you questions related to terminology , reasoning , problem - resolution , and storage .
Scharre explains that the questions spread over a wide range of cognitive domains , particularly power that are early predictors of mild cognitive deterioration .
SAGE measures cognitive function by assessing the follow areas :
Examples of questions include :
In addition to the score point on the test , SAGE asks interrogative about your aesculapian history , such as “ Have you suffer astroke ? ” The test enquire if you have a family story of cognitive deterioration . You ’re also asked about any current symptom you may be having , such as problems with memory or balance , or if you ’ve experienced any personality change .
These answers can help your health care supplier identify possible causes of cognitive decline .
Who Should Consider Taking the SAGE Test?
According to Scharre , anyone who is have memory , language , problem - resolution , or thinking problems should consider taking SAGE .
“ This may be especially important if you are noticing very mild symptoms , since SAGE is plan to pick up other shortage and give up your health care providers to diagnose and manage any potential conditions at an former stage , ” he says .
Friends or class members may want to promote a have intercourse one to take the test if they notice issues related to memory or thought process .
You may also bid to take SAGE to establish a baseline cognitive assessment to habituate for comparison in the futurity if you have a kinfolk account of dementedness or thinking problems .
“ Typically , we would suggest iterate the run every six month unless meaning cognitive changes are occurring , ” say Scharre .
Where Can I Find the Test?
you may download the test for free at theWexner Medical Center website .
There ’s also a digital version made for tablets , produce by a company call BrainTest . It consists of indistinguishable trial doubt . This interlingual rendition is scored by a venire , and result are transmit to you so you could take them to your doctor for further discussion . you could download the mental testing as an app or get to the online adaptation atBrainTest.comby signing up for a free trial ( but remark that you must provide requital data to make out enrollment for the trial period ) .
How to Take the SAGE Test
If you ’re taking the paper version of the trial , you ’ll find four slightly dissimilar variations on the Wexnerwebsite . It does n’t matter which one you take . The test consists of four pages . Print it out and answer the questions in ink without the assistance of others . Do n’t appear at a clock or calendar while take the run , and just do the best you could .
you could take the test in almost any setting . It will normally take about 10 to 15 minutes , but there ’s no placed clock time limit point .
To get an precise judgment , it ’s important not to cheat on .
In some cases , you might choose to take the mental test at your doctor ’s function so it can be evaluated right away .
What Are the Next Steps After Taking It?
After you fill out the test , you should take it to your healthcare provider , who can score the test and give you feedback .
According to Scharre , your doctor may suspect that a specific part of your mentality is not run as well as other parts , depending on how you answer specific questions . “ That may help them in their symptomatic thoughtfulness , ” he says .
depend on your run results , your MD may schedule extra neurologic tests or brain imaging — such as aMRIorCTscan — to rule out other condition that may be impairing your thinking or storage , such as a fortuity , Parkinson ’s disease , abrain tumour , or another unwellness likehypothyroidism .
How Accurate and Reliable Are the Results?
Like any test , SAGE is not staring . Scharre points out that masses have a broad variety of cognitive talents , and this ask to be taken into story .
“ There will be individuals who mark well but have a decline from their previous ability . Repeat testing over time will find those that are build up ” in exit of cognitive function , he state .
“ Some someone will not tally as well , but that may represent their baseline talents , and their score would not suggest any specific brain condition , ” Scharre adds . This is why it ’s authoritative to have the test represent by a healthcare supplier who can take your personal medical account into account .
It ’s important to note that factors other than mild cognitive stultification or dementia could be affecting your retentiveness and thinking on any given daylight .
“ Perhaps you do n’t have a retention impairment but are quitedepressed , ominous , orsleep - impoverish , ” saysJessica Caldwell , PhD , conductor of the Women ’s Alzheimer ’s Movement Prevention Center at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas , Nevada .
If you have headache about your retentivity but are also experiencing symptom of low or sleep difficulties , Dr. Caldwell suggests see your doctor .
The Takeaway
The SAGE test is a simple self - administer masking tool to assess your cognitive function and seem for signs of mild cognitive stultification or early - stage dementedness . you’re able to take the test at home and ask your Dr. to hit it , or take it at your doctor ’s office . While SAGE ca n’t name any specific condition , it can help your doctor adjudicate what other tests you might want to identify the causal agency of cognitive problems .
David Weisman , MD , is the director of the Clinical Trial Center atAbington Neurological Associatesin Pennsylvania , where he has lead numerous clinical trials into modest cognitive deterioration and Alzheimer ’s disease to acquire disease - modify drug .
Dr. Weisman has dedicated his research career toward advancing new therapies for Alzheimer ’s disease , rivet on clinical trials for the bar and discourse of Alzheimer ’s disease , mild cognitive impairment , and other dementia , and he dedicate his clinical recitation to memory and cognitive problem .
He receive a unmarried man ’s degree in philosophical system from Franklin and Marshall College , then an MD from Penn State College of Medicine . After an internship at St. Mary ’s Hospital in San Francisco , he dispatch his clinical neurology residence at Yale , where he served as main resident physician . He then go to the University California in San Diego for fellowship training in Alzheimer ’s disease and other dementias .
Weisman has issue paper and study in diary such asNeurology , JAMA Neurology , Stroke , andThe New England Journal of Medicine , among others .
Barbara Kean has worked as a newsman , investigator , editor , and author for a number of newspapers and clip includingVogue , The New York Times Magazine , theBoston Herald , Martha Stewart Living , Rolling Stone , Vanity Fair , Health , Glamour , andSelf . After earning a bachelor ’s arcdegree in English and Spanish from Tufts University and a master key ’s degree in English from University College London , this Boston aborigine start her career in news media at theBoston Heraldnewspaper before locomote to New York .
She was previously the enquiry film director atVoguemagazine for many years . She has work on several books , includingThe End of Karma : Hope and Fury Among India ’s Young(Somini Sengupta),Grace : 30 Years of Fashion at Vogue(Grace Coddington),Vogue keep : Houses , Gardens , People(Hamish Bowles ) , andThe World in Vogue : citizenry , Parties , Places(Alexandra Kotur and Hamish Bowles ) .
Kean loves preparation , picture , fashion , change of location , music , recitation , and theater . She specially enjoys interviewing scientist and doctors who are work on new treatments for chronic disease like cancer , and share that selective information with readers .
Alzheimer ’s Disease
Doctors for Alzheimer’s Disease: Who Should Be on Your Healthcare Team?
What Is Alzheimer’s Disease? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
Recognizing the Signs of Mild Cognitive Impairment Due to Alzheimer’s Disease
Poor Spatial Navigation May Be an Early Sign of Alzheimer’s
This Blood Test Is Over 90 Percent Accurate in Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease
What Is Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Artificial Intelligence May Detect Early Alzheimer’s in Speech Patterns
Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease
How Alzheimer’s Disease Is Diagnosed
Amyloid PET Scans May Drastically Change Alzheimer’s Diagnosis and Care, Study Finds
