FAQ

Here we have compiled a list of answers to our most frequently asked questions.  If this page doesn't address your outstanding question, please feel free to contact us.

Why should I take the ALZSelftest?
First, it's important to monitor all aspects of your health. The ALZselftest can help you and your physician monitor your brain function just as you would your heart or lungs.

Second, early diagnosis is the key to better management of any disease, and cognitive impairments like Alzheimer's Disease (AD) are no different. By monitoring your cognitive health you can identify any signs of impairment early, while treatment options are best. Unfortunately, 60% of people with early signs of AD go undiagnosed until they are past the early stages and treatment options are more limited.

AD develops slowly, and it is possible to delay the onset of the disease for several years through preventive measures and consistent monitoring. According to William Shankle in his 2004 book Preventing Alzheimer's, we could reduce by one half the number of people with AD, just by delaying the onset of each person's disease for five years.

Who should take the test?
The most common age range for the onset of dementia is 65-70 years, with the chances of developing AD or other dementias increasing with age. Anyone who is age 50 or older can benefit from testing for mild cognitive impairment in order to catch any signs or impairment at the earliest possible stage.

How long will the test take?
The online test takes only about ten minutes. Be sure to allow yourself 20 minutes for the test and registration process.

What will the ALZSelftest tell me?
The ALZselftest identifies impairment in the six major areas, or cognitive domains, that are likely to be impaired by dementia:

• Orientation: The awareness of time, place, situation and self
• Visuo-spatial ability: The ability to visualize, organize, manipulate and recreate objects
• Verbal fluency: The ability to quickly and accurately use language
• Memory: The ability to recall information and previous experiences as well as to learn and store new information
• Attention: The ability to concentrate and focus on information without being easily distracted
• Executive processing: The ability to reason and make decisions and judgments

By assessing your responses in each area, the ALZselftest can help you and your doctor identify areas that may need attention and help you monitor changes and improvements.

What if I don’t have the computer skills to take the test on my own?
That’s okay. You can ask a family member or friend to help you use the computer. Once you start the test, just tell that person your answers to the questions, and he or she can enter them into the computer. As long as the answers are yours, it doesn’t matter who enters them on the screen.

How often should I take the ALZselftest?
Repeated testing, at least twice a year in most cases, allows people to monitor their brain function and get an early start on treatment for cognitive impairment.

The ALZselftest evolved from the paper test created by Dr. John H. Dougherty Jr., aleading neurologist, in 2002. More than 1500 trials of the paper test have been conducted, and studies of the online version of the test show it to be a very reliable tool, not only for identifying cognitive impairment, but also for zeroing in on the specific areas that need improvement.

Where can I find out more about the test and how it was developed?
Please visit the physicians' section of our site for information about the test and its evaluation in studies.

How accurate is the test?
Laboratory studies have shown the ALZselftest to be 98 percent accurate in identifying impairment in six cognitive domains

How is it different from other tests?
The ALZselftest is the first reliable, accurate self-test available on the Internet. Other tests require that the test be administered in a physician’s office, while the ALZselftest can be taken in the privacy of your own home, or anywhere else that’s convenient.