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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffThere is no specific test to confirm a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment. Instead, your doctor will try to rule out other potential causes for your symptoms. Tests may include the following.
Neurological exam
As part of your physical exam, your doctor may also check for signs of Parkinson's disease, strokes, tumors or other medical conditions that can impair memory as well as physical function. The neurological exam may test:
- Reflexes
- Eye movements
- Balance
- Sense of touch
Mental status exam
A short form of this type of test can be done in less than 10 minutes in your doctor's office. You may be asked to:
- Name today's date and your location
- Copy a design, such as intersecting pentagons
- Follow a three-stage command
- Remember a list of three words
- Follow a written direction
- Count backwards by sevens
- Draw a clock
Longer forms of neuropsychological testing can take several hours. Your results are then compared with those of people from a similar age and education level. This can help distinguish normal from abnormal cognitive aging, and may help identify patterns in cognitive functions that provide clues to the underlying condition.
Lab tests
Simple blood tests can rule out physical problems that can affect memory, such as vitamin B-12 deficiency or an underactive thyroid gland.
Brain scans
Your doctor may order an MRI or CT scan to check for evidence of stroke or bleeding, and to rule out the possibility of a tumor.
