A ONE-MINUTE test which uses just a pen and paper could reveal if you’re at risk of dementia, experts say.
The 60-second check is called the semantic verbal fluency test, and it’s been used by doctors for years to spot early signs of .
Research backing it has been published in several journals, including Cortex and Clinical Neuropsychology.
All you need is a timer, a pen and a bit of paper.
First, pick a big category – like animals, fruit or TV shows – and list as many as you can in 60 seconds.
You can say them out loud instead of writing them down – hence the name: verbal fluency test.
If you really struggle, it might suggest something’s not quite right with memory or thinking skills.
It’s not a diagnosis, but it could be an early red flag.
Another popular test is the , which the NHS has used for decades.
You ask someone to draw a clock face on a blank bit of paper.
They add the numbers one to 12, then draw the hands to show a time—like ten past eleven.
Sounds simple, but it actually takes a lot of brain power.
You need memory, planning skills and visual awareness – things that often fade when dementia sets in.
If the clock looks wonky or the numbers are in the wrong place, it could mean something’s wrong.
Get it right, though, and it almost rules dementia out, according to NHS guidance.
If someone finds it tricky, a chat with their GP is the next step.
Dementia affects around one million people in the UK, and Alzheimer’s is the most common cause.
It’s the country’s biggest killer, with 74,261 deaths in 2022, up from just over 69,000 the year before, according to Alzheimer’s Research UK.
The Alzheimer’s Society reckons dementia costs the UK £42billion a year, with most of that falling on families.
As the population ages, that’s expected to more than double to £90billion in the next 15 years.
But there’s still hope.
Scientists believe up to 40 per cent of dementia cases could be prevented with simple lifestyle changes.
That means , , , avoiding and even wearing when needed.
