Saturday, December 27, 2014

Baycrest memory experts launch 'thermometer' for the mind

I haven't had time yet to do this test to see if I am well or not.
http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1361493/baycrest-memory-experts-launch-thermometer-for-the-mind
If you are in the 50 to 79 age bracket, worried about your memory changes and whether you need to see a doctor, there is a free online brain health test developed by the memory experts at Baycrest Health Sciences that will help you with that decision.
The test – co-developed by the brain health solutions company Cogniciti Inc. (owned by Baycrest and partner MaRS Discovery District) – takes about 20 minutes to complete and is available to the public at www.cogniciti.com.
The game-like tests tap into functions such as memory and attention, which are affected by aging and brain disease. You can take the test on a desktop or laptop computer at home (with internet access), and receive an overall score of your cognitive health immediately after you finish.
According to the test's creators, the majority of people will score in the normal, healthy range for their age – which will help reassure the "worried well".  For the small percentage (approximately 2 - 3%) that scores below average for their age and education, those adults will be encouraged to re-test after a week. If their score again falls below the normal threshold for their age, they will be provided with a personalized report to help them start the conversation about their brain health with a doctor.
Designed by a team of clinical neuropsychologists and cognitive scientists at Baycrest Health Sciences and its world-renowned Rotman Research Institute – and lab tested with 300 adults aged 50 to 79 recruited from various sources including CARP Canada's subscriber base – the brain health assessment hammers a stake in the ground in an increasingly crowded field of online brain fitness products.
"Our aim with the brain health test is to reassure the worried well and nudge that small percentage of people who do have serious memory issues to discuss their concerns with a doctor," said Dr. Angela Troyer, program director of Neuropsychology and Cognitive Health at Baycrest, and a lead member of the research team that developed the test. 
"Given the growing consumer demand for quality brain health self-assessments, this new online test can help address the concerns of millions among the worried well," said Alvaro Fernandez, CEO and co-founder of SharpBrains.com, an inde­pen­dent mar­ket research firm tracking health and performance applications of neuroscience. SharpBrains has 100,000 monthly readers for its popular brain blog and 45,000 eNewsletter subscribers.

Good luck, more at link

No comments:

Post a Comment