I agree that these types of tests do not measure intelligence or cognition. I do believe however that taking one of these tests is beneficial as you age or are concerned. The positive side is knowing that you’re stable or on the flip side seeing some changes if there are some. Several years ago we had some concern for my mom’s behavior & struggling memory. I brought her to a specialist who gave her a tests (as mentioned above) & she was normal. Over the next few years she would be given the exact same test by the same practitioner. There were often subtle changes but it could have been “a bad day” per my mom. Visit medical frequencies increased over time & we could see some decline. I distinctly remembered the first time my mom was given the same test but this time she didn’t understand the directions. The next visit after a few months she couldn’t read the test itself. On that day my mom went through every emotion. I tried to hold back my feelings as much as I could but my heart was breaking. There are many ways to test decline like MRIs, decreased hygiene, interactions with others, etc. but they’re either expensive or subjective. She passed away peacefully 18 mo ago. As the sole living person on my mom’s family made it even more painful.
I am now 53y/o but I haven’t been “feeling myself” for quite awhile. I justified my exhaustion as mom’s caregiver, grief, & recent menopause. I started seeing a neurologist about 2 yrs ago. Every time I would be given one of those (screening) tests I felt like I was worse. Objectively, I was. In that time I had both many MRI’s & blood work. Eight months ago my genetic testing came back positive for Alz on both sides of my family. I then had a PET scan which showed both beta amyloid and tau protein. I have a PhD in pediatric nursing & I worked as a Peds NP in the ER of a regional Childrens hospital for several decades. I’m a nerd & I’m okay with that. I’m sharing this bc my brain is my best attribute. Losing it is devastating. Having frequent testing in the office & noticing subtle declines fast tracked the complete work up. I have since been diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s. I’ve been waiting for any drug trials but so far there have been none that I’m eligible for.
Thank you for reading my long & rambling post. I appreciate your patience.
The takeaway for me is the confirmation that these kind of tests are too insufficient to rate the cognitive performance/ „intelligence“ of an individual … there are at least as many kind of intelligences out there as number as individuals 😄
(That said, I fully understand and accept the application of that crude measure for medical and research purposes.)
This had me laughing!
I agree with you! I have seen him speak.
I agree that these types of tests do not measure intelligence or cognition. I do believe however that taking one of these tests is beneficial as you age or are concerned. The positive side is knowing that you’re stable or on the flip side seeing some changes if there are some. Several years ago we had some concern for my mom’s behavior & struggling memory. I brought her to a specialist who gave her a tests (as mentioned above) & she was normal. Over the next few years she would be given the exact same test by the same practitioner. There were often subtle changes but it could have been “a bad day” per my mom. Visit medical frequencies increased over time & we could see some decline. I distinctly remembered the first time my mom was given the same test but this time she didn’t understand the directions. The next visit after a few months she couldn’t read the test itself. On that day my mom went through every emotion. I tried to hold back my feelings as much as I could but my heart was breaking. There are many ways to test decline like MRIs, decreased hygiene, interactions with others, etc. but they’re either expensive or subjective. She passed away peacefully 18 mo ago. As the sole living person on my mom’s family made it even more painful.
I am now 53y/o but I haven’t been “feeling myself” for quite awhile. I justified my exhaustion as mom’s caregiver, grief, & recent menopause. I started seeing a neurologist about 2 yrs ago. Every time I would be given one of those (screening) tests I felt like I was worse. Objectively, I was. In that time I had both many MRI’s & blood work. Eight months ago my genetic testing came back positive for Alz on both sides of my family. I then had a PET scan which showed both beta amyloid and tau protein. I have a PhD in pediatric nursing & I worked as a Peds NP in the ER of a regional Childrens hospital for several decades. I’m a nerd & I’m okay with that. I’m sharing this bc my brain is my best attribute. Losing it is devastating. Having frequent testing in the office & noticing subtle declines fast tracked the complete work up. I have since been diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s. I’ve been waiting for any drug trials but so far there have been none that I’m eligible for.
Thank you for reading my long & rambling post. I appreciate your patience.
The takeaway for me is the confirmation that these kind of tests are too insufficient to rate the cognitive performance/ „intelligence“ of an individual … there are at least as many kind of intelligences out there as number as individuals 😄
(That said, I fully understand and accept the application of that crude measure for medical and research purposes.)
These tests seem like a crude measure of congnitive ability. Like using a chainsaw to cut butter.
Are you the same Irvine who wrote a book about the importance of balance in sculling?
Yes, that's me. Are you a sculler?
Yes, in Connecticut and in Florida.
I learned to row in college, many years ago, in the time when boats and oars were made of wood, metal and leather.
Thank you!