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Primary care providers play a crucial role in identifying neurocognitive disorders such as mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's, and dementia among patients. However, diagnosing these conditions in primary care settings can be challenging due to time constraints and the complexity of conducting thorough cognitive assessments.

Researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine have discovered that the Self-Administered Gerocognitive Exam (SAGE), a free test developed at Ohio State, integrates seamlessly into primary care visits. Designed to detect early signs of cognitive, memory, or thinking impairments, SAGE assesses an individual's cognitive abilities, aiding physicians in assessing brain function.

The findings of their study, published in the journal Frontiers in Medicine, revealed a notable impact: among patients who took the SAGE test, primary care providers diagnosed new cognitive disorders in 9% of cases, compared to only 1.5% among those who did not undergo testing. This represents a sixfold increase in detection rates with the use of this practical self-administered assessment tool.

Douglas Scharre, MD, director of the division of cognitive neurology at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and lead author of the study, highlighted the test's effectiveness. A significant majority (86%) of participating primary care providers expressed willingness to recommend SAGE to their peers based on the study's outcomes.

Conducted with patients aged 65 and older at two primary care offices within Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, the study involved comparing outcomes between 100 patients who received routine visits and another 100 who were administered the SAGE test. Results indicated that SAGE identified cognitive impairments earlier, facilitating more effective therapeutic interventions.

"In our study we identified 9% of patients that I think we're catching at an early stage," Scharre explained, per Medical Express. "Therapies always work better the earlier you start them no matter what the cause of the cognitive impairment is."

The SAGE test, available in pen-and-paper format or as the digital BrainTest, requires no specialized training for administration and evaluates various cognitive domains including memory, language, calculations, and problem-solving skills. According to Scharre, this comprehensive assessment aids in pinpointing specific areas of cognitive decline, guiding targeted treatment strategies.