A neurologist has shared a quick three-movement hand test that can help spot dementia, a condition that is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the UK, according to Alzheimer's Research UK.
Dr. Adnan Husein posted a social media video demonstrating what he calls “the quickest test for dementia,” which involves three simple hand gestures. The test, known as the Luria Test or Fist-Edge-Palm Test, asks patients to perform a specific sequence of movements.
How the test works
First, the patient makes a fist with one hand and places it in the palm of the other hand. Next, they open the hand and place the pinky finger side down on the opposite palm, like a karate chop. Finally, they turn that hand facing down and pat the open palm of one hand on the other.
Dr. Husein says these motions test different parts of the brain, as reported by the New York Post. He explains: “For some people, they can’t do the movement smoothly. They sometimes perseverate on the same movement again and again, or they miss the sequence.”
Dementia in the UK
Research shows that over 50% of people with Alzheimer’s disease struggle with this test. Dementia now accounts for more than one in ten of all deaths in the UK, yet almost 40% of UK adults do not think dementia is a cause of death.
Dementia UK describes dementia as an umbrella term for a range of progressive conditions that affect the brain. Each type stops brain cells (neurones) from working properly in specific areas, affecting a person’s ability to remember, think and speak. Doctors use the word “dementia” to describe common symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, and problems with speech and understanding that worsen over time. Dementia can affect a person at any age, but it is more common in people over 65.
