Current cognitive testing methods include MRIs, PET scans, and spinal taps, all of which are expensive and invasive and are only available at hospitals rather than primary care physician offices.
Fremont, CA: Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive disorders affect more than 55 million people worldwide. Diagnosis of these conditions necessitates a cancer-like approach in which patients of all ages are screened on a regular basis for the earliest possible detection, which can mean the difference between intervention and treatment. However, the healthcare system is not designed in this manner, and many patients are diagnosed too late in the disorder's progression.
Sadly, brain health is only addressed after symptoms of decline appear, but there is a long window for early intervention that current screenings are unable to detect. Alzheimer's disease, for example, can begin to form in the brain up to 20 years before symptoms appear, but detecting it is difficult. Patients may miss out on early diagnosis that can make a difference in the treatment and intervention of disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's if cognitive screenings are not performed at every wellness visit.
Current cognitive testing methods include MRIs, PET scans, and spinal taps, all of which are expensive and invasive, and are frequently only available at hospitals rather than primary care physician offices. Alternatives to these invasive imaging methods include the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE), the MiniCog, or a Clock Drawing Test, all of which are completed on paper. Although
