New Tool for Evaluation of Age-related Cognitive Decline

A new tool that tracks cognitive performance in adults may help physicians identify people who may be on the path to Alzheimer disease or another form of dementia. The tool, called the QuoCo (cognitive quotient), is published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Similar to ''growth charts'' used in pediatrics, the QuoCo cognitive charts allow physicians to plot cognitive performance of any patient based on age, education and score on the Mini-Mental State Examination, and track cognitive change over time.