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    Cognitive Assessment Tools

    Cognitive Assessment Tools

    These cognitive assessment tools are used to identify individuals who may need additional evaluation. No one tool is recognized as the best brief assessment to determine if a full dementia evaluation is needed. However, the expert workgroup identified several instruments suited for use in primary care based on the following: administration time ≤5 minutes, validation in a primary care or community setting, psychometric equivalence or superiority to the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), easy administration by non-physician staff and relatively free of educational, language and/or cultural bias. For a definitive diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or dementia, individuals who fail any of these tests should be evaluated further or referred to a specialist.

    Patient assessment tools

    General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition (GPCOG) – Available in multiple languages Mini-Cog™ – Screening for Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults Memory Impairment Screen (PDF)

    Informant tools (family members and close friends)

    Eight-item Informant Interview to Differentiate Aging and Dementia (AD8) (PDF)

    General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition (GPCOG) – Available in multiple languages Short Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE) – Available in multiple languages

    Learn more: Cognitive Assessment

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    Assessment and care planning services now eligible for reimbursement. 

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