Cognitive Test for Detecting Alzheimer\'s

¶ … Cognitive Testing

SAGE Cognitive Test for Detecting Early Signs of Alzheimer's

The Self-Administered Gerocognitive Examination, also known as the SAGE test is meant for at-home administration by older adults in order to test the strength of their memory and other cognitive functioning. It was originally designed by researchers at Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center. Dr. Douglas Scharre from the Wexner Medical School created the test and published it in early 2014. Essentially, it is "designed to detect early signs of cognitive, memory or thinking impairments" (Scharre, 2014). It is meant for individuals to self administer at home when they feel they may be worried about loosing cognitive functioning, which can be a sign of early Alzheimer's disease or Dementia. The test takes roughly about 15 minutes to complete and can be used as a way to start a dialogue with one's physician regarding potential for such conditions and how individuals can begin treating and preparing for them early on. The test is meant to warn individuals and their physicians of possible issues that could be related to the early onset of Alzheimer's or dementia, as well as a variety of other conditions known to impact cognitive functioning, like mild strokes and thyroid conditions. Here, the research suggests that the "SAGE can be a helpful tool to assess if further evaluation is necessary" (Scharre, 2014). It is an easy to use cognitive test that can extrapolate red flags that would suggest the need for further evaluation.

The test itself is deceptively simple and can be printed out and taken at home by individuals potentially worried about their cognitive functioning. The test is meant for senior citizens, normally from 65 years of age and older. It features a total of 22 questions that are written on paper by the test takers (Alzheimer's & Dementia Weekly, 2014). There are questions like "What is today's date," "How many nickels are in 60 cents?" And "Write down the names of 12 animals?" These questions are meant to be answered by hand, and often require short written answers and even drawings meant to replicate normal everyday concepts and objects. The bulk of these 22 questions are meant to measure language skills, orientation, calculation capabilities, spatial skills, and problem solving, as well as memory (Scharreet al., 2014). The SAGE was carefully designed to represent areas of cognitive functioning that are normally put in jeopardy first during the onset of early stages of Alzheimer's and various forms of dementia. After the test is taken, the individual is prompted to take results to their physician in order to better compile a more realistic score. Thus, there is an increased sense of reliability in the test because it is scored by physicians, who are better trained to interpret the results to see if any other cognitive evaluations are needed (Scharre, 2014). Therefore, although it is administered within the home environment, there is an increased sense of reliability built into the scoring methodology for the test. Here, the research explains that "missing up to six points or more on the test means there should be additional medical follow-up" (Huffington Post, 2014). Such low scores signify that more evaluations are needed and that physicians should begin to look more intensively for early signs of cognitive problems associated with Alzheimer's and dementia.

Due to the test design being an at-home one, extensive research went into testing the reliability of the psychometrics utilized. Researchers at Ohio State University wanted to ensure that the at-home test was just as reliable as other cognitive tests that are typically administered within a clinical setting. To test the SAGE's reliability, hundred of volunteers over the age of 50 were used in a number of separate studies that compared the results of SAGE scores to other cognitive assessment scales that are conducted within the context of a clinical setting (Scharreet al., 2014). There was extensive research conducted by Dr. Scharre at Ohio State, but also elsewhere in different research labs. According to the research, "to validate the exam's findings and accuracy, Scharre and other researchers at Ohio State evaluated study participants using SAGE, and then evaluated the same subjects with a battery of other established and well-documented assessment tools" (Alzheimer's & Dementia Weekly, 2014). Study participants first took the SAGE test at their own leisure in the setting of their own homes. These tests were then scored by their physicians. The same individuals then took more clinical cognitive scales meant to detect early signs of Alzheimer's and dementia. The results found that "SAGE scores compared favorably with the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), a brief questionnaire test that is commonly used in medicine to screen for cognitive impairments and dementia" (Alzheimer's & Dementia Weekly, 2014). This was a huge relief for test designer, as it assured a greater sense of reliability, despite being such a seemingly informal test design that is taken within the context of the home environment. Additional studies found that "four out of five people (80%) with mild thinking and memory (cognitive) issues will be detected by this test, and 95% of people who are normal thinking will have normal SAGE scores" (Alzheimer's & Dementia Weekly, 2014). Due to such positive findings, the test has also published in Journal of Neuropsychology and Clinical Neurosciences as well as Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders (Alzheimer's & Dementia Weekly, 2014).