​Risk Assessment and Screening

1. Mini-Cog

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The Mini-Cog scale was launched by Borson et al. in 2000. The questionnaire consists of two parts. It is simple and easy to operate and involves a variety of cognitive functions, including immediate memory, short delayed recall, comprehension, structural concepts, and visuospatial ability, executive function, abstract thinking, attention, etc. The detection time is approximately 3 minutes.

 

Step:

1. Make sure the subject is paying attention

2. Tell the subject: "I will say 3 words and ask you to remember them: banana, sunrise, chair. Please repeat them now."
   [In order to make sure that the patient has heard clearly, give the patient three chances to repeat the words. If all three attempts fail, go to the next question. ]

3. Instruct the patient to draw a clock in the following order: "Please draw a clock in the blank space below. First draw a large circle, label the numbers along the circle, and then draw the hour and minute hands to indicate 11:10."
   [If the patient cannot draw the clock as instructed within 3 minutes, stop and then continue recalling the words. ]

4. Question: “What are the 3 words I just asked you to remember?

 

Result evaluation:

1. Each word recalled is worth 1 point (0 to 3 points)

2. A correct mark on the dial is worth 2 points, and an incorrect mark is worth 0 points.
   Correct standard:

   • The circle is closed

   • The position of the dial numbers is correct

   • All 12 numbers on the dial are missing

   • The hour and minute hands are in the correct position

3. The MINI-COG test score is obtained by adding the total scores of the noun recall and CDT tests.

4. 0 to 2 points, the dementia screen is positive and further evaluation is required;
   A score of 3 to 5 indicates a negative dementia screening result.

 

2. AD8 Dementia Screening Questionnaire

sAD8 Dementia Screening Questionnaire, developed by the University of Washington in 2005, is a medical scale used clinically to screen for very early stages of dementia. It can also be used by as an assessment of disease risk.

 

This scale focuses on whether people have experienced eight specific "changes" and answering whether there are changes can help people screen for dementia symptoms. Since it examines "changes," we recommend people to use this scale regularly to observe and compare whether the subject has specific changes, which can act as an indication of the disease progress.

 

Question:

1. Do you often forget the correct year or month?

2. Do you often have trouble remembering the time you made appointments with others?

3. Do you have trouble remembering and thinking about things?

4. Are you having a hard time settling accounts?

5. Do you often repeat the same words or questions, tell the same stories?

6. Do you have difficulty using the remote control, turning on the TV, turning on the air conditioner, or using the microwave oven in your daily life?

7. Are you no longer interested in any activities or hobbies?

8. Have you ever felt like you had issues with judgment?

 

Answer: A. Yes, there is a change     B. No, no change    C. Unsure

 

Result evaluation:

+1 point for answering "B. Yes, there is a change"

0-1: normal cognitive function,Dementia is unlikely, but very early stages of the disease cannot be ruled out.

Score 2 and above (abnormal range score): Cognitive impairment may be present, but it cannot be used as a criterion for diagnosing dementia. This screening can sensitively detect early changes in cognitive function, indicating the possibility of Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and frontal-temporal dementia.

 

Combining these two tests can help you determine your or your family member's risk for dementia. If it exceeds the normal range, it is strongly recommended to go to the community for more rigorous screening, or to go to the hospital for professional diagnosis and treatment.