Dementia Screening Questions: What to Expect & Understand

Several questions and tasks are commonly used in screening for dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease. Here are some examples:

Orientation:

- What is today's date?

- What month are we in?

- What year is it?

- Where are you right now?

- What is this place?

Memory:

- Can you recall three objects I mentioned a few minutes ago?

- Can you remember what you had for breakfast today?

- What did you do yesterday?

Language:

- Can you repeat this phrase after me: "Red leather, yellow leather"?

- What do you call this object? (Show a pen or a watch.)

- What is the meaning of the proverb "A penny saved is a penny earned"?

Attention and Concentration:

- Count backward from 10 to 1.

- Repeat a series of numbers forward and backward.

- Spell a simple word like "world" or "tree" backward.

Visuospatial Skills:

- Draw a simple shape, such as a clock with numbers.

- Copy a geometric design.

- Identify an object in a picture that is different from the others.

Problem-Solving:

- Solve simple math problems, such as subtraction with single-digit numbers.

- Describe how you would address a hypothetical everyday problem.

Executive Functioning:

- Plan and execute a series of steps to make a cup of tea or coffee.

- Make judgments about social situations or hypothetical scenarios.

Functional Abilities:

- Ask about the individual's ability to perform daily activities, such as managing finances, medication, cooking, driving, or using household appliances.

Additionally, healthcare professionals might use specific screening instruments, such as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clock Drawing Test, or Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), to further evaluate cognitive impairment.

Keep in mind that screening for dementia should be conducted by a qualified healthcare professional, and a diagnosis of dementia requires a comprehensive assessment and evaluation by a medical team.