A simple, self-administered test called SAGE (Self-Administered Gerocognitive Examination), developed by researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, can identify the early, subtle signs of dementia sooner than standard testing with the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE).

The study followed more than 600 patients at the university's Center for Cognitive and Memory Disorders over eight years and found that the SAGE test accurately identified patients with mild cognitive impairment who eventually progressed to a dementia diagnosis at least six months earlier than the MMSE. Because it is self-administered, the SAGE test can be taken at the first signs of memory impairment. This creates a baseline score that can be monitored over time with repeated testing.

"If the patient 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 evaluate if there should be a diagnosis or to make decisions on treatments," Dr. Douglas Scharre, director of the Division of Cognitive Neurology and lead author of the study.

To download the full study, published in Alzheimer's Research and Therapy, click here

The SAGE test is available here

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