Dementia is an umbrella term for conditions that involve an impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interfere with daily life.
Early detection of Alzheimer’s disease can provide valuable time to intervene, motivating experts to uncover the early signs and ways of detecting the mind-robbing condition.
Fortunately, a simple at-home test could help achieve exactly that.
There are several ways you can check if someone might be displaying early signs of the mind-robbing condition, such as having them draw a clock.
Another effective method is asking the person to do a word test, which could assist in detecting memory problems.
Your brain stores all the words you learn in your memories, which you then use to recall what a word means without consciously thinking about it.
However, a person exhibiting signs of dementia may have difficulty remembering certain words or may confuse them.
This can indicate trouble with their memory, which is considered an early sign of dementia.
According to the UK Dementia Directory, word association tests can be effective as a quick method of detecting memory problems.
While there are various approaches, the health portal suggests naming as many animals as you can within one minute.
Alternatively, you could also list all the types of fruit you can recall.
The crucial aspect is selecting a topic where someone can easily name numerous items.
Research has shown that healthy individuals typically score between 20 to 25 words within the one-minute time limit, whereas a person with memory problems usually scores between 10 to 15.
While this could be a good indication of memory problems and a reason to consult a GP about dementia, the test does not guarantee the presence of the condition.