Why Assess Memory Annually
Annual assessment leads to earlier detection of dementia.
The standard approach to assessing memory problems is to test someone once and to compare their scores to how most people of a similar age and background would perform. This is referred to as normative scoring. There are two major problems with normative scoring:
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First, normative scoring tells us nothing about how your memory might be changing. Changes in memory function can only be detected by testing you periodically. Consider, for example, trying to predict where a hurricane will make landfall. If you only measure its location once, your prediction will likely be wrong. The more frequently you measure the hurricane’s location, the more precisely you can determine where it will end up. This is especially important for early detection of dementia: The more measurements we have of normal or near-normal functioning, the better able we will be to identify the presence of dementia in an early stage.
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Second, normative scoring compares your performance to that of the average or typical person in your age group. This is inexact because you have many unique strengths and weaknesses.
At MARS we recommend yearly assessments. Annual assessments are better than normative scoring because we can compare you to both the average performance and your own past performances. When you serve as your own standard of comparison, it is significantly easier to detect any changes in memory. Therefore, regular annual testing, especially before you experience problems, will allow us to be in the best position to identify memory disorders in their early stages - which will maximize your benefit from treatment.
Why Assess Memory Annually
