Testing Memory

Memory Testing with Words

The following article is Just a reminder of how simple this process really is. I am sure the 15 word test works pretty well. But for general use I have a few problems with it. First of all, verbal recall varies tremendously with different people and with different degrees of ability in the selected language. But the real issue I have is in the way these tests have to be administered, The average person simply does not like being asked to remember 15 words and having someone else write down the results. A visit to the doctor tends to be stressful anyway.

Computer based tests (such as ours: MemoryMigrations) can be done in privacy when you are relaxed. The results are more accurate and more consistent.

But here is the article:

Memory test may predict Alzheimer's
It might indicate likelihood of disease a decade in advance

By OLIVER MOORE
THE (TORONTO) GLOBE AND MAIL

Simple memory tests can indicate up to a decade in advance which seniors are likely to get Alzheimer's disease, researchers have found.

Performance on one of these tests -- which involved trying to memorize a list of 15 words and repeat back as many as possible after a short delay -- was found to be closely linked to later incidence of the brain-destroying disease.

A normal recall for those ages 60 to 75 would be 10 or 11 words, said Mary Tierney, director of geriatric research at Toronto's Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Center and lead researcher of the study. Acceptable recall for those over 75 might be in the range of eight or nine words.

Since age and education are factored into the equation, Tierney could not give a precise point at which the numbers become worrisome. But she said much lower results, in the range of four words, could be a sign of problems to come.

posted by Henry Bowles @ 9:11 PM