Dementia test

Perfom a dementia test

You can do a dementia test below with the help of a short questionnaire for family members and caretakers of the elderly to map out any memory problems and cognitive decline in daily functioning.
At the bottom of the test you can read the explanation about the test and how to judge the diagnosis.

How is Mrs. / Mr, compared to 10 years ago:
1. Remember facts about relatives and friends, such as professions, birthdays or addresses.
Much better A bit better Not changed Something worse Much worse

How is Mrs. / Mr, compared to 10 years ago:
2. Remember what happened recently.
Much better A bit better Not changed Something worse Much worse

How is Mrs. / Mr, compared to 10 years ago:
3. Remember conversations from a few days ago.
Much better A bit better Not changed Something worse Much worse

How is Mrs. / Mr, compared to 10 years ago:
4. Remember his / her address and phone number.
Much better A bit better Not changed Something worse Much worse

How is Mrs. / Mr, compared to 10 years ago:
5. Remember which day and month it is.
Much better A bit better Not changed Something worse Much worse

How is Mrs. / Mr, compared to 10 years ago:
6. Remember where something is normally.
Much better A bit better Not changed Something worse Much worse

How is Mrs. / Mr, compared to 10 years ago:
7. To find something that is not on its usual place.
Much better A bit better Not changed Something worse Much worse

How is Mrs. / Mr, compared to 10 years ago:
8. Dealing with well-known household appliances.
Much better A bit better Not changed Something worse Much worse

How is Mrs. / Mr, compared to 10 years ago:
9. Learning to deal with new household appliances.
Much better A bit better Not changed Something worse Much worse

How is Mrs. / Mr, compared to 10 years ago:
10. Learning new things in general.
Much better A bit better Not changed Something worse Much worse

How is Mrs. / Mr, compared to 10 years ago:
11. Understanding the story from a book or on television.
Much better A bit better Not changed Something worse Much worse

How is Mrs. / Mr, compared to 10 years ago:
12. Make decisions about everyday things.
Much better A bit better Not changed Something worse Much worse

How is Mrs. / Mr, compared to 10 years ago:
13. Dealing with money for the groceries.
Much better A bit better Not changed Something worse Much worse

How is Mrs. / Mr, compared to 10 years ago:
14. Arrange money matters, such as pensions, banking.
Much better A bit better Not changed Something worse Much worse

How is Mrs. / Mr, compared to 10 years ago:
15. Solving other everyday math problems, such as how much food must be bought, know when family members or friends have visited for the last time.
Much better A bit better Not changed Something worse Much worse

How is Mrs. / Mr, compared to 10 years ago:
16. To use common sense to understand what is happening and to put things right.
Much better A bit better Not changed Something worse Much worse

Source reference test: A.F. Jorm & P.A. Jacomb (1989) Dutch version (IQCODE-N). Translation J.F.M. de Jonghe & B. Schmand.

The Dementia test explanation

The test consists of a number of questions about activities in which remembering and thinking are important. Do you want to indicate at every activity whether Mrs./mister has (something) improved in the past 10 years, has not changed, or has (something) deteriorated?

By default, for every question “not changed” is checked but you can check an answer that you think is the right choice.

The comparison with 10 years ago is important. So if mrs / mister used to forget where she / he had put stuff and still forgets, she / he has not changed on that point. In that case, leave the “not changed” answer checked. After completing the questions, click on “Calculate result” to see the result of the test.

It is a test that allows you to test your memory. You can check if you have serious memory problems. This allows you to check with yourself or with someone where you suspect dementia if this suspicion is correct. This test can also be tested on various characteristics of dementia. If the result is low, it is advisable to keep the result and to test it later on again.
With a high result, it is advised to go to the doctor. The docotor will then send you to the hospital for examinations and see if your suspicion is justified. This test can of course be for yourself or for someone else, but the sooner you test it the better. It is important to keep a close eye on it. Such a test can therefore offer a solution to see for yourself whether the suspicion is correct.

Diagnosis

To diagnose dementia is really difficult to determine. It is often very difficult to specifically say anything about this. There are several factors that play a role. It is first of all important to know what types and what symptoms there are. In addition, it is also important to know what role it plays in someone’s life, how far does that person deteriorate? What lifestyle does that person have? Which features play a greater role? Does the person live healthy? Has the person been treated before. It is possible to do a test. However, the specific diagnosis for dementia is difficult to analyse. This is due to the fact that it has already been indicated that dementia itself is not an isolated disease. It is an overarching of disease. It is a characteristic of diseases. So it is a problem that can arise due to illness. Someone who suffers from dementia does not have specific dementia, but suffers from dementia because he has Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s for example. This makes it impossible to establish a diagnosis for dementia, but one can see if there are dementia complaints, then a disease is linked to it.

About the test

The IQCODE-N is the shortened Informant Questionnaire on cognitive decline (ie, memory problems) in the elderly. The list maps cognitive decline in daily functioning. This is done by asking the judgment of family members or someone else from the vicinity of the person concerned.

Because it concerns a comparison of the same person ten years ago, age or educational level play a much less important role than in other questionnaires or tests. The list also makes a good distinction between forgetfulness due to dementia and forgetfulness due to depression. People with depression score lower on this list than people with dementia.

Although this is a reliable and valid measuring instrument, the score itself is not sufficient to make a diagnosis. In an interview with the person concerned and his / her family, the GP will assess whether there is reason to refer for further investigation. This test can help to express the doubts and concerns you have.

What information can you find on our website? Read the table of contents on DementiaTest