A memory loss screening tool evaluating short-term recall, long-term memory function, and daily cognitive performance to identify potential areas of concern.
Memory changes can occur at any age due to stress, sleep deprivation, medications, or neurological conditions. This screening tool evaluates various aspects of memory function including short-term recall, working memory, prospective memory (remembering to do things), and recognition memory. It can help identify whether your memory concerns warrant further professional evaluation.
This test is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a diagnostic tool and should not replace professional medical advice. If you are experiencing distress, please consult a licensed healthcare provider.
Memory problems have many possible causes, and most of them are not dementia. The most common causes of forgetting are entirely benign: stress and anxiety (which impair memory encoding), poor sleep (which affects memory consolidation), medication side effects, depression, thyroid disorders, and normal age-related cognitive change.
Normal age-related memory change is gradual and typically affects retrieval speed — it takes a bit longer to recall names or words — rather than destroying memories altogether. The word on the tip of your tongue that comes back later is typical age-related change. Forgetting conversations that definitely happened, getting lost in familiar places, or repeating questions within minutes are more concerning signs.
Dementia is not a single disease — it's an umbrella term for a group of conditions causing progressive cognitive decline. Alzheimer's disease accounts for around 60-80% of dementia cases. Vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia are others. Early detection matters because some causes of cognitive decline are treatable.
Memory changes that warrant medical attention include: forgetting recently learned information (not just names from long ago), asking the same questions repeatedly in a short space of time, difficulty with familiar tasks like cooking a known recipe or managing finances, confusion about dates and times, misplacing items in unusual places (like putting keys in the fridge), and withdrawal from social activities.
Changes in personality, mood, or judgement are often early signs of dementia that family members notice before the person themselves. Increasing confusion, suspicious thinking, or uncharacteristic behaviour in a person over 65 is worth raising with a doctor.
Many people fear dementia when noticing memory changes, but get a proper assessment rather than either reassuring yourself or catastrophising. Many causes of memory problems are treatable — and if the cause is dementia, earlier diagnosis leads to better planning and access to appropriate care.
This memory screening tests recall, recognition, and working memory — three core components of memory function. It's not a dementia test, but it gives an indication of how well your memory is currently functioning across several dimensions.
The test is designed for adults of any age. Results should be interpreted in context — a single bad day (poor sleep, high stress, illness) will affect your score. If you're consistently experiencing memory difficulties, that's more significant than a single poor test result.
If you score in the lower ranges and have concerns, speak with your GP. A formal cognitive assessment — typically the MMSE or MoCA — is the appropriate clinical tool for evaluating memory concerns.