Brief Cognitive Assessment

doi:10.1017/9781108985055.002

Chapter 2 - Brief Cognitive Assessment

from Section 1 - Introductory Chapters on Dementia

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 November 2025

Elena Tsoy and

Katherine Possin

Edited by

Bruce L. Miller and

Bradley F. Boeve

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Bruce L. Miller: Affiliation:
University of California, San Francisco
Bradley F. Boeve: Affiliation:
Mayo Clinic, Minnesota

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Summary

Cognitive assessment is used to detect, characterize, and monitor the degree of cognitive impairment in dementia and its earlier stages. Brief cognitive assessments are frequently used across diverse clinical settings and offer scalability as a frontline marker aimed at enhancing the clinical efficiency of diagnostic work-up. These tools have a potential to facilitate early detection and diagnosis of symptomatic cognitive impairment, which is a crucial first step to providing medical and supportive care that benefits people with cognitive impairment and their care partners and for identifying pre-surgical or hospitalized patients who may benefit from delirium prevention interventions. This chapter provides an overview of the most commonly used brief cognitive measures in clinical practice, recent developments and novel measures, and future directions for use of brief cognitive tools across clinical settings including primary, dementia specialist, preoperative, and inpatient care. Recommendations for cultural considerations and optimal implementation paradigms are also discussed.

Keywords

dementia Alzheimer’s disease mild cognitive impairment cognitive assessment early diagnosis neuropsychology digital neuropsychology primary care perioperative care diversity

Information

Type: Chapter
Information: The Behavioral Neurology of Dementia , pp. 9 - 19

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108985055.002 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2025

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