Are you worried that your memory isn’t what it used to be?
A simple 5-minute task that tests how well you can draw an analog clock can tell you if you’re showing early signs of memory loss.
Dr. Jesús Ramírez Bermúdez, a Mexican neurologist who studies cognitive decline, says the clock-drawing test is an effective way to identify dementia.
By sharing images of test with XDr Ramírez Bermudez said it was “one of the easiest and cheapest ways” to identify people with neurological diseases, including dementia, which affects around 944,000 people in the UK.
This test simply asks someone to draw a clock face on a blank piece of paper.
You need to add all the numbers from 1 to 12 and set the hands to a specific time, for example 11.10 (ten minutes past eleven).
This task relies on the patient remembering what a clock face looks like. This is a skill known as executive functioning, and it involves how we plan, organize, and complete tasks.
Executive function is one of the first cognitive skills to begin to decline when dementia develops.
Used by the NHS for decades, if the circles on this clock are distorted or the numbers are placed incorrectly, it could indicate an early stage of the disease.
The test is scored on a points basis, with one point awarded for each of the following criteria: how well the participant draws the circle on the clock, how well do they draw the numbers in the correct position, and how well do they draw the two hands on the clock. Draw or point the hands to the correct time.
The NHS says that if a patient can accurately draw a clock, dementia is “virtually ruled out” as the task requires a wide range of cognitive skills.
The UK Dementia Directory is urging people to encourage their relatives and friends to take a quick and easy test if they suspect they are suffering from memory loss.
If you have difficulty drawing the clock correctly, you should seek further advice from your 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 bearing the brunt.
As the population ages, these costs (including lost earnings for unpaid carers) are expected to 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.
Around 900,000 Britons are now thought to suffer from memory loss disorder. But scientists at University College London estimate that this number will rise to 1.7 million within 20 years as people live longer. This represents a 40 percent increase from the previous forecast in 2017.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. This disease can cause anxiety, confusion, and short-term memory loss
This is thought to be caused by the buildup of amyloid and tau in the brain, where they clump together and become plaques and tangles that make it difficult for the brain to function properly.
Eventually, the brain struggles to cope with this damage and symptoms of dementia develop.
Memory problems, difficulty thinking and reasoning, and language impairment are common early symptoms of this condition, which worsens over time.
According to analysis by Alzheimer’s Research UK, 74,261 people will die from dementia in 2022 (compared to 69,178 in the same period last year), making it the country’s biggest killer.
Experts have previously talked about several different tests that can be used to detect early signs of dementia.
One test, called Cognetivity Neurosciences, developed by a Cambridge University spin-off, shows patients a series of images that either feature animals or do not feature animals, and participants quickly respond by pressing “yes” or “no.” be asked to do so.
Another 10-minute test, created in 1996, is called the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and asks patients to draw shapes, name animals, and recall a list of items.
