A neurologist has outlined five straightforward tests that may help detect early signs of dementia, a condition affecting over 55 million people worldwide. While a formal diagnosis requires professional medical assessment, these preliminary screening methods can indicate cognitive decline.
The first test involves standing on one leg for at least 30 seconds. Dr Baibing Chen, a US-based neurologist known as Dr Bing on social media, explained that difficulty with this task has been linked to a higher risk of dementia and stroke, as it may reveal deficits in brain regions controlling balance and motor skills.
The second test assesses the sense of smell. Early dementia can affect the brain's olfactory region, so trouble identifying common odours may signal neural degeneration associated with conditions like Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease.
The third test, the clock-drawing test, requires a person to draw a clock showing a specific time. Dr Bing noted that difficulty with spatial organisation, attention, and planning can indicate Alzheimer's disease. The fourth test, dual-task gait, involves walking while performing a cognitive task such as counting backwards; problems with this can indicate issues with executive function, memory, or attention.
Finally, the category fluency test asks the person to name as many items as possible within a category, such as animals, in one minute. Difficulty recalling words within a set time frame can indicate cognitive decline in brain regions affected by Alzheimer's or frontotemporal dementia. Anyone experiencing dementia symptoms should consult a doctor.
