Memory and other cognitive tests can reveal whether one has minor problems with some aspects of thinking – a condition known as “mild cognitive impairment” that precedes Alzheimer’s disease. The problem is that the tests must be administered by a trained neuropsychologist and take more than an hour to complete; moreover, many people with mild cognitive impairment do not progress to dementia.
这些测试目前正在成为临床实践的一部分，并以投入商业应用。记忆和其他认知测试可以揭示你是否在思维的某些方面存在小问题——所谓的“温和认知损伤”，常常在阿尔茨海默症之前出现。问题是这些测试必须由受过训练的神经心理学家进行，需要一个多小时时间完成；此外，许多有温和认知损伤的人并不会出现痴呆。