When it comes to dementia, early detection can make a major difference for patients and their families. It opens up the possibility for earlier treatment interventions, like medication, lifestyle improvements, and the opportunity for participation in clinical trials, and connects patients with resources earlier so that they can plan for the future.
Digital cognitive testing is a fast and accessible way to integrate dementia testing into healthcare—saving time and money without sacrificing quality of care. In this post, we will review the benefits of early dementia detection and the unique ways in which online cognitive screeners can support your clinic.
Key Takeaways:
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By 2030, an estimated 78 million people worldwide will live with dementia—and that number is expected to jump to 139 million by 2050.
Early detection helps identify vulnerable patients before their disease progresses, improving health outcomes by:
If every American currently living with dementia had been diagnosed when they had mild cognitive impairment, it would have saved an estimated $7 trillion in health and long-term care costs. As clinics strive to deliver value-based care, prioritizing early dementia diagnosis is essential for patients and healthcare systems’ cost-efficacy.
Early cognitive decline coupled with other symptoms of dementia is often misunderstood as a sign of normal aging. In fact, 62% of healthcare professionals believe dementia is a regular part of aging. But when symptoms are disrupting quality of life, this may be an indication that there are factors other than age-related decline at play, and that’s where cognitive testing has an important role in distinguishing symptoms of one condition from another.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, ten symptoms associated with early dementia include:
Some of the most common tools used to screen for dementia include:
Early detection is essential for capturing accurate RAF scores. When a dementia diagnosis is missed, health systems are unable to capture a patient’s true clinical risk and accurately estimate the cost of dementia care—even as the patient’s needs continue to rise.
Without aligned risk adjustment, practices and health systems struggle to plan resources effectively, leaving teams underfunded and potentially unable to deliver true value-based care.
Classic dementia questionnaires can flag subjective symptoms of cognitive decline as reported by patients, but they do have limitations. Digital cognitive tests capture domain-specific insights to clearly identify any patterns of cognitive impairment that may meet the diagnostic criteria for mild and major neurocognitive disorders as opposed to normal signs of aging.
Traditional cognitive tests like the MoCA and SLUMS perform well when detecting signs of advanced dementia, but they have several limitations and may miss subtle symptoms of early dementia. This pushes back the timeline for a dementia diagnosis, which can have a negative impact on both the rate of care and accurate risk adjustment.
In addition, there are many causes of MCI, and flagging symptoms isn’t the same as identifying the core issue. Digital dementia screening and assessment tools can assess patterns of cognitive performance related to potentially affected brain regions, providing detailed insight as to whether or not a patient’s MCI may relate to dementia or another condition.
The results of pen-and-paper tests offer a snapshot of data from the day testing is delivered. However, factors like lack of sleep may impact results, making it harder to capture a complete picture during a single annual wellness visit.
Digital cognitive tests can randomize items so they cannot be memorized, making them ideal for retesting multiple times and allowing providers to gather longitudinal data that paints a picture of patient trajectories. When it comes to dementia, providers can also track the effectiveness of interventions and the progression of decline.
Whether it be because of physical disabilities or remote locations, many patients struggle to get to their doctor’s office. This becomes increasingly challenging when senior patients can no longer drive safely—which may be an indicator that they need extra cognitive care.
An estimated 20% of Americans live in remote rural areas. Delivering cognitive testing via telemedicine promotes accessibility and helps to prevent these patients from being left behind, improving long-term health outcomes.
The Creyos Dementia Assessment and Care Plan is a comprehensive suite of digital cognitive tests designed for early dementia detection. Sensitive and scientifically validated, this assessment gathers both objective and subjective data for confident decision-making.
This protocol includes:
When the individual domains are scored, providers can identify if a patient’s weakest scores correlate with a suspected diagnosis. Rather than simply noting that impairment is present, there is clearer guidance relating to the specific impairments linked with neurocognitive disorders, including MCI and dementia. Once a diagnosis is made, the cognitive tasks can be used to monitor the effectiveness of treatment.
Clinicians don’t need hours of training to implement these tests—results are instantly scored and uploaded into an easy-to-interpret report. Instead of adding to the costly administrative burden, our assessment tools streamline cognitive testing into your processes.
Over the course of three years, Creyos Health provided the cognitive assessment tools for the world’s largest dementia trial. During this time, thousands of people remotely participated in online screening, gathering high-value data with low effort.
On a clinical level, our assessments helped Yukon Neurology see an average of 30 patients daily and complete 10 neuropsychological exams per week—without exhausting providers.
To prepare for the oncoming boom of dementia patients, clinics and healthcare organizations can benefit from proactively implementing standardized cognitive care solutions. With scientifically backed tools for early detection, providers can refine their systems to consistently provide quality treatment without adding to administrative and financial burdens.
Reviewed by Sydni Paleczny, Staff Scientist
Sydni earned her MSc in Neurosciences at Western University under Dr. Adrian Owen. Her research explores neuropsychological outcomes after cardiac surgery, with interests in cognitive neuroscience, critical care, and brain health. At Creyos, she supports scientific validity, health technology, and ongoing research.