This Is A Do-It-Yourself Alzheimer’s Test Called SAGE - It Can Help Reveal Early Signs Of The Disease

Early Signs of Cognitive and Brain Dysfunction

If You Answered YES to ANY of these, please grab a piece of paper and pencil and proceed further.

Why take the SAGE Test?

You may want to take SAGE if you are concerned that you might have cognitive issues. Or you may wish to have your family or friends take the test if they are having memory or thinking problems. The difficulties listed can be early signs of cognitive and brain dysfunction. While dementia or Alzheimer's disease can lead to these symptoms, there are many other treatable disorders that also may cause these signs.

It is normal to experience some memory loss and to take longer to recall events as you age. But if the changes you are experiencing are worrying you or others around you, SAGE can be a helpful tool to assess if further evaluation is necessary.

Unfortunately, many people do not seek help for these kinds of symptoms until they have experienced them for several years. There are many treatable causes of cognitive and thinking loss, and in some cases, medications or other treatments can be very effective-especially if provided when symptoms first begin.

Remember that SAGE does not diagnose any specific condition. The results of SAGE will not tell you if you have Alzheimer's disease, mini-strokes or any number of other disorders. But the results can help your doctor know if further evaluation is necessary.

#1 Lets Begin with Today's Date

Once you have written down Today's date, Name the 2 Pictures you see (Don't worry about spelling):

How Well Are You Thinking? Answer These Questions:

How are a watch and a ruler similar? Write down how they are alike. They both are... what?

How many nickels are in 60 cents? ___________________________

You are buying $13.45 of groceries. How much change would you receive back from a $20 bill?

6. Memory Test (memorize these instructions). Do later only after completing this entire test:

At the bottom of the very last page: Write "I am done" on the blank line provided.

7. Copy this picture you see...

Last Question ...

Have you finished? __________________________________

What do I do after I take the test?

After you complete the test, take it to your primary care physician. Your doctor will score it and interpret the results. If indicated, your doctor will order some tests to further evaluate your symptoms or refer you for further evaluation.

If your score does not indicate any need for further evaluation, your doctor can keep the test on file as a baseline for the future. That means, you can take the test again in the future, and the doctor can see if there are any changes over time.

There is no answer sheet provided here for you to score yourself because there are multiple correct answers to many of the questions on the test. SAGE should be scored by your physician.

Please be sure to Read the Disclaimer Regarding the SAGE Test

The Instrument cannot substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment by a trained medical professional. Diagnosis and treatment of human illness should be based collectively on medical history, including family medical history, and a physical examination along with a doctor's professional judgment and review of all test results. The material contained in the Instrument does not contain standards that are meant to be applied rigidly and followed in virtually all cases. Physicians' judgment must remain central to the selection of diagnostic tests and therapy options of a specific patient's medical condition.

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