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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – (COLUMBUS, Ohio) January 2014 – Researchers have developed an self-administered test that can help doctors spot early symptoms of cognitive issues in their patients, like Alzheimer’s disease. Best of all, the test is cheap, self-administered, and can be taken virtually anywhere.
“What we found was that this self-administered test correlated very well with more detailed cognitive testing,” said Douglas Scharre, MD, who developed the test with his team at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, “The difference is, this approach simply requires a pen, paper and about 10 minutes of a patient’s time,” he said.
While the test cannot definitely diagnose problems like Alzheimer’s disease, it does allow doctors to screen for any cognitive deficits and to obtain baseline cognitive functioning that could be monitored over time. “We can give them the test periodically and the moment we notice any changes in their cognitive abilities, we can intervene much more rapidly,” said Scharre.
Doctors say early intervention is the key to good treatment outcomes. Unfortunately patients with Alzheimer’s disease, for example, often wait 3-4 years after their symptoms first appear to seek treatment. “Hopefully, this test will help change those situations,” said Scharre. To download the SAGE test click here. To learn more about the test click on the video box to the left. To read the press release, “click to read more” below.
– See more at: http://osuwmc.multimedianewsroom.tv/story.php?id=730&enter=#sthash.GtmgHS9w.dpuf
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