Alzheimer's disease | Memory Test

If you're unsure whether the signs and symptoms you've seen require further attention from a doctor, try answering the following 11 questions to find out.

Responses to the Memory Test do not determine a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer's disease - they may simply suggest the need for further assessment.

Test adapted from: Mundt JC, Freed DM and JH Greist. Lay person-based screening for elderly detection of Alzheimer's disease: Development and validation of an instrument.

To the doctor:

This informant-based dementia screening tool from onmemory.ca is adapted from the Symptoms of Dementia Screener (SDS).^†

The SDS was developed as a screening tool for Alzheimer's disease to be used by lay people with little or no medical training. It is not intended to be filled out by persons in whom possible cognitive difficulties are suspected, but rather by someone else who knows them.

In its initial development and validation, it was found that using a cut-off of 5 or more "yes" responses to this screening instrument gave the test a specificity of 90.2% and a sensitivity of 84.6% for detecting possible or probable Alzheimer's disease.

Additionally, using this cut-off was found to have a positive predictive value of 85.9% (likelihood of having a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease given a positive screen) and a negative predictive value of 84.6% (likelihood of not having an Alzheimer's disease diagnosis given a negative screen).

While the SDS represents a simple tool with high specificity and sensitivity, it should only be used as a guide, and cannot replace clinical diagnostic tools administered by trained professionals.

Responses to this test do not determine a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer's disease they may simply suggest the need for further assessment.

For more information about the SDS, visit Oxford Journals of Gerontology

^† Mundt JC, Freed DM, and JH Greist. Lay person-based screening for elderly detection of Alzheimer's disease: Development and validation of an instrument. Journal of Gerontology 2000;Vol 55B(3):163-170.

	Yes	No	Don't Know
1. Does the individual often repeat himself or herself or ask the same question over and over?
2. Does the individual seem more forgetful, that is, have trouble with short-term memory?
3. Does the individual need multiple reminders to do things they used to on their own, like chores, shopping or taking medication?
4. Does the individual repeatedly forget important appointments, family occasions or holidays?
5. Does the individual seem sad, down in the dumps or prone to crying more often than in the past, and without any apparent reason?
6. Does the individual have trouble doing routine calculations, managing finances or balancing a cheque book?
7. Does the individual appear to have lost interest in his or her usual activities such as hobbies, reading or social occasions?
8. Does the individual need help performing regular activities such as eating, dressing, bathing or using the bathroom?
9. Does the individual become easily and unexpectedly irritable, agitated, suspicious or has he or she started imagining (i.e. hearing, seeing or believing) things that are not real?
10. Has the individual been getting lost driving, driving unsafely, or stopped driving? Does he or she get lost walking in a familiar area, such as their own neighbourhood?
11. Does the individual have trouble finding words, finishing sentences or naming people or things?
Total

Memory Test

If you're unsure whether the signs and symptoms you've seen require further attention from a doctor, try answering the following 11 questions to find out.

Please select one of the options below

Does the individual often repeat himself or herself or ask the same question over and over?

Does the individual seem more forgetful, that is, have trouble with short-term memory?

Does the individual need multiple reminders to do things they used to do on their own, like chores, shopping or taking medication?

Does the individual repeatedly forget important appointments, family occasions or holidays?

Does the individual seem sad, down in the dumps or prone to crying more often than in the past, and without any apparent reason?

Does the individual have trouble doing routine calculations, managing finances or balancing a cheque book?

Does the individual appear to have lost interest in his or her usual activities such as hobbies, reading or social occasions?

Does the individual need help performing regular activities such as eating, dressing, bathing or using the bathroom?

Does the individual become easily and unexpectedly irritable, agitated, suspicious or has he or she started imagining (i.e. hearing, seeing or believing) things that are not real?

Has the individual been getting lost driving, driving unsafely or stopped driving? Does he or she get lost walking in a familiar area, such as his or her own neighbourhood?

Does the individual have trouble finding words, finishing sentences or naming people or things?

You answered "Yes" to five or more questions, suggesting that you have noticed some problems with the memory, behaviours, personality, or abilities of the person you're concerned about.

You answered "Yes" to fewer than 5 questions.

To the doctor:

Yes

No

Don't
Know

Total


		Does the individual often repeat himself or herself or ask the same question over and over? Yes No Don't Know
			Question 1 of 11


		Does the individual seem more forgetful, that is, have trouble with short-term memory? Yes No Don't Know
			Question 2 of 11


		Does the individual need multiple reminders to do things they used to do on their own, like chores, shopping or taking medication? Yes No Don't Know
			Question 3 of 11


		Does the individual repeatedly forget important appointments, family occasions or holidays? Yes No Don't Know
			Question 4 of 11


		Does the individual seem sad, down in the dumps or prone to crying more often than in the past, and without any apparent reason? Yes No Don't Know
			Question 5 of 11


		Does the individual have trouble doing routine calculations, managing finances or balancing a cheque book? Yes No Don't Know
			Question 6 of 11


		Does the individual appear to have lost interest in his or her usual activities such as hobbies, reading or social occasions? Yes No Don't Know
			Question 7 of 11


		Does the individual need help performing regular activities such as eating, dressing, bathing or using the bathroom? Yes No Don't Know
			Question 8 of 11


		Does the individual become easily and unexpectedly irritable, agitated, suspicious or has he or she started imagining (i.e. hearing, seeing or believing) things that are not real? Yes No Don't Know
			Question 9 of 11


		Has the individual been getting lost driving, driving unsafely or stopped driving? Does he or she get lost walking in a familiar area, such as his or her own neighbourhood? Yes No Don't Know
			Question 10 of 11


		Does the individual have trouble finding words, finishing sentences or naming people or things? Yes No Don't Know
			Question 11 of 11


	You answered "Yes" to five or more questions, suggesting that you have noticed some problems with the memory, behaviours, personality, or abilities of the person you're concerned about. Based on your responses, it is recommended that you accompany your family member to the doctor for further evaluation. Before you go, be sure to print a summary of your responses to share and discuss with the doctor. You answered "Yes" to fewer than 5 questions. Based on your responses, further assessment is not needed at this time. If you or the person you are concerned about still have questions, don't hesitate to discuss them with a doctor.

Memory Test

If you're unsure whether the signs and symptoms you've seen require further attention from a doctor, try answering the following 11 questions to find out.

Please select one of the options below

Does the individual often repeat himself or herself or ask the same question over and over?

Does the individual seem more forgetful, that is, have trouble with short-term memory?

Does the individual need multiple reminders to do things they used to do on their own, like chores, shopping or taking medication?

Does the individual repeatedly forget important appointments, family occasions or holidays?

Does the individual seem sad, down in the dumps or prone to crying more often than in the past, and without any apparent reason?

Does the individual have trouble doing routine calculations, managing finances or balancing a cheque book?

Does the individual appear to have lost interest in his or her usual activities such as hobbies, reading or social occasions?

Does the individual need help performing regular activities such as eating, dressing, bathing or using the bathroom?

Does the individual become easily and unexpectedly irritable, agitated, suspicious or has he or she started imagining (i.e. hearing, seeing or believing) things that are not real?

Has the individual been getting lost driving, driving unsafely or stopped driving? Does he or she get lost walking in a familiar area, such as his or her own neighbourhood?

Does the individual have trouble finding words, finishing sentences or naming people or things?

You answered "Yes" to five or more questions, suggesting that you have noticed some problems with the memory, behaviours, personality, or abilities of the person you're concerned about.

You answered "Yes" to fewer than 5 questions.

To the doctor:

Yes

No

Don't Know

Total

Don't
Know