Mild cognitive impairment test

Are you worried about memory loss? Here, I show you a free, simple mild cognitive impairment test you can take at home to find out if your forgetfulness is normal for your age or a sign of something more serious. Get my free MCI Memory Test Cheat Sheet: https://gocogno.com/mci-test/

Visit the Go Cogno website: https://gocogno.com/

Download the SAGE test here: https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/brain-s...

Here's a partial transcript with key elements from the video:

These memory problems you’ve been noticing recently. Are they normal for your age? Or are they an early sign of cognitive impairment?

Well, you can wonder and worry. Or find out by taking a simple, free pen-and-paper mild cognitive impairment test in the comfort of your own home.

Hi, I’m Tony Dearing, of GoCogno.com, the website for people with mild cognitive impairment.

If you’re watching this video, you probably don’t know whether you've got mild cognitive impairment. That’s what you’re trying to figure out. And you’re looking for a test that can help you determine that.

What I’m going to show you today is how to choose the right test, how to take it, and what to do with the results. And if you’re ready, let’s get started.

Step 1 – Choosing the right test

I’m going to make this really simple for you. If you Google “free memory test” you’re going to get thousands of results. Most of these tests are worthless and some are outright scams. Don’t fall for that.

What I'm going to recommend is the Self-Administered Gerocognitive Exam, or the SAGE test for short.


Step 2 – Getting the test

SAGE was developed at the Wexner Medical Center at Ohio State University.

You can download it at this website. You pick the language you want it in, and you'll see there’s four different tests. They’re different, but they all measure the same things with the same accuracy. It doesn’t matter which one you choose. Just pick one.

Step 3 – Preparing for the test

Pick the right time and the right place, somewhere quiet, without distractions, no TV blaring, and your phone turned off.

Find a comfortable setting, and do it when you have enough time.

This is not a timed test. Most people who take it will generally finish it in 10 or 15 minutes, but you can take as much time as you want.

Step 4 – Play by the rules

There are just a few simple rules for taking the test.

Use a pen, not a pencil, to fill it out.

Don’t look at clock or a calendar or your computer while you’re taking it.

And don’t let anyone help you.


This site is educational, and is not intended as medical advice. It offers information about lifestyle choices that have been proven to help protect cognition. Always consult your doctor before making changes that can impact your health.

Step 5 – Getting the results


Once you’re done, it’s time to score the test. That’s something a doctor should do. So you take it to your doctor, and your doctor scores it.

Now that sometimes surprises people. They kind of expect this to be like a home pregnancy test — you just take it, and you find out the answer right there.

Well, pregnancy is pretty straight-forward. You’re either pregnant or you’re not. Cognitive impairment is much more nuanced. There's a gray area between what's cognitively normal for your age and mild cognitive impairment, and there's a gray area between mild cognitive impairment and dementia. And where you are on that spectrum isn't just a number.

That being said, you can score it if you want to. The website has information on it that tells doctors how to score it, and anybody can look at that information and score the test if they want to. But that’s a bad idea.

First of all, if you’re having cognitive issues, you may score it incorrectly, and what good does that do you?

Also, your score needs to be looked at in the context of your educational background, your long-term and recent medical history and a lot of other factors. And a doctor can interpret that in a way that you can’t.

The maximum score that you can get on the SAGE test is 22 points. Generally speaking, a score of 17 to 22 is a pretty good indication that your memory is normal for your age. Someone who scores a 15 or a 16 may have some mild cognitive impairment, and a score of 14 or less suggests a more serious problem.

If your score is below 17, please don’t panic. That doesn’t mean that you have dementia. It indicates there may be a problem, and your doctor should refer you for further evaluation, to see what’s going on and how it can be addressed. Many causes of memory loss are treatable.

But those are just ranges. A doctor who knows your personal and medical history can put your score in the right context for you, and that’s what you really need.

This site is educational, and is not intended as medical advice. It offers information about lifestyle choices that have been proven to help protect cognition. Always consult your doctor before making changes that can impact your health.