WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s the new chant in Washington politics: “Get a cognitive test!” Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s the new chant in Washington politics: “Get a cognitive test!” Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s the new chant in Washington politics: “Get a cognitive test!” Political opponents, armchair pundits and even nervous supporters are demanding that President Joe Biden undergo such testing after his dismal debate performance – even though his physician says he gets, and passes, an annual neurologic exam. Former President Donald Trump, who’s only a few years younger, makes his own gaffes. He recently bragged about passing a 2018 cognitive test – while calling the doctor who administered it by the wrong name.
With all the concern, what can cognitive testing actually tell about a person’s brain health – and what can’t they answer? And presidents aside, does the average older adult need one? What are cognitive tests? They’re brief screening tools, a 10-minute series of questions to assess different brain functions. Two of the most common are called the MMSE, Mini-Mental State Exam, and the MoCA, Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Recalling a list of five unrelated nouns or seeing how many words beginning with F you can say in a minute can assess short-term memory and language.
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