COLUMBUS – A new study found that a simple, self-administered test developed by researchers at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center can identify the early, subtle signs of dementia sooner than the most commonly used, office-based standard cognitive test.
This earlier detection by the Self-Administered Gerocognitive Examination (SAGE) is critical to effective treatment, especially as new therapeutics for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are being developed and approved.
“New disease-modifying therapies are available and others are currently being evaluated in clinical trials, and we know that the earlier cognitive impairment is detected, the more treatment choices a patient has and the better the treatments work,” said Dr. Douglas Scharre, director of the Division of Cognitive Neurology at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and lead author of the study published in the journal Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy.
While the test does not definitively diagnose problems like Alzheimer’s, it allows doctors to get a baseline of their patients’ cognitive functioning, and repeat testing allows them to follow their memory and thinking abilities over time.
“Often, primary care physicians may not recognize subtle cognitive deficits during routine office visits,” Scharre said.
Researchers found that the SAGE accurately identified patients with mild cognitive impairment. These patients eventually progressed to a dementia diagnosis at least six months earlier than the most commonly used testing method.
“Any time you or your family member notices a change in your brain function or personality you should take this test,” Scharre said. “If that person takes the test every six months and their score drops two or three points over a year and a half, that is a significant difference, and their doctor can use that information to get a jump on identifying the causes of the cognitive loss and to make treatment decisions.”
More than 6 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, and those numbers are expected to rise to more than 13 million by 2050. Deaths from Alzheimer’s and other dementias have increased 16% during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
To access SAGE or BrainTest, visit wexnermedical.osu.edu/SAGE.
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