Are you worried that your memory isn’t what it used to be?
A simple five-minute task that tests how well you can draw an analog clock could show if you have an early sign of the memory stealing condition.
According to Dr. Jesús Ramírez-Bermúdez, a Mexican neurologist who researches cognitive decline, the clock test is an effective method for identifying dementia.
Sharing an image of test in XDr Ramírez-Bermúdez described it as “one of the easiest and cheapest ways” to identify patients with neurological diseases, including dementia, which affects around 944,000 people in the UK.
The test is simply asking someone to draw a clock face on a blank sheet of paper.
They must add all the numbers from one to 12 and then set the hands to a specific time, for example 11:10 (ten past 11).
The task depends on the patient remembering what a clock face looks like, a skill known as executive function, which involves how we plan, organize and complete tasks.
Executive function is one of the cognitive skills that first begins to fail when dementia develops.
Used by the NHS for decades, a crooked circle and incorrectly placed numbers on this clock could indicate early illness.
The test is scored based on points, with one point awarded for each of the following criteria: how well the participant drew the clock circle, drew the numbers in the correct place, drew two hands on the clock, and pointed the hands at the correct time. .
If the patient manages to draw a clock correctly, it “virtually excludes” dementia because the task requires a wide range of cognitive skills, the NHS says.
The UK Dementia Directory urges people to encourage family and friends to take this quick and easy test if they suspect they may be suffering from memory loss.
If they have difficulty drawing the clock correctly, they should seek further advice from a GP.
A recent analysis by the Alzheimer’s Society estimates that the total annual cost of dementia in the UK is £42 billion a year, with families hardest hit.
An aging population means these costs, which include lost income from unpaid carers, will soar to £90bn over the next 15 years.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting 982,000 people in the UK.
It is currently believed that around 900,000 Britons suffer from this memory-robbing disorder. But scientists at University College London estimate this figure will rise to 1.7 million within two decades as people live longer. It marks a 40 percent increase from the previous forecast in 2017.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. The disease can cause anxiety, confusion and short-term memory loss.
It is believed to be caused by a buildup of amyloid and tau in the brain, which build up and build up of plaques and tangles that make it difficult for the brain to function properly.
Over time, the brain struggles to cope with this damage and symptoms of dementia develop.
Memory problems, thinking and reasoning difficulties, and language problems are common early symptoms of the condition, which then worsen over time.
Analysis by Alzheimer’s Research UK found that 74,261 people died from dementia in 2022, compared to 69,178 the previous year, making it the leading cause of death in the country.
Experts have previously talked about several different tests that can be used to detect early signs of dementia.
A test developed by a University of Cambridge spin-off company called Cognetivity Neurosciences shows patients a series of images showing either an animal or no animal and asks participants to quickly respond by pressing “yes” or “no.”
Another 10-minute test created in 1996, called the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), asks patients to draw shapes, name animals, and remember a list of items.