Memory and aging
Is this normal aging, or something more?
Subtle changes in memory, attention, or thinking can occur as we age. Whether a particular change is ordinary is not something anyone can judge from the inside — which is what standardized testing is for.
Why an evaluation
The question this answers
Subtle changes in memory, attention, or thinking are common with age, but it is rarely clear from the outside whether a change reflects normal aging or something more significant. A neuropsychological evaluation is a comprehensive, objective assessment of cognitive functioning that exists to clarify precisely that.
Testing helps establish whether the changes fall within the expected range for your age, are consistent with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or may relate to other factors — stress, sleep problems, medical conditions, or the effects of medication.
What testing examines
What is measured, and against what
A battery of carefully standardized tests examines the domains most relevant to the question being asked. Your results are compared against normative data for your age, education, and background, so 'normal' means normal for you rather than normal in the abstract.
- Memory and new learning
- Attention and concentration
- Language
- Processing speed
- Problem solving and executive functioning
- Mood and emotional factors that can affect performance
Who it is for
Who is referred
People who have noticed a change themselves and want it examined properly; people whose physician has raised the question at a routine visit; and people who want a cognitive baseline on record while everything is still working well, so that any future change can be measured against something real rather than against memory of how things used to be.
What you receive
What the evaluation gives you
A written report setting out the pattern of results, what it indicates, and practical recommendations to support cognitive health and day-to-day functioning. It also serves as a documented cognitive baseline for comparison if the question arises again later.
Identifying mild cognitive impairment early can matter. Many people with MCI continue to function independently for years; for some, it carries an increased risk of more significant cognitive difficulty over time, and knowing which situation you are in allows your physician to plan accordingly.
Equally often, the findings are consistent with normal age-related change rather than a progressive condition. That result is worth having: it is reassurance based on evidence, and it comes with strategies rather than uncertainty.
Neuropsychological Associates provides assessment and consultation only. The practice does not provide counseling, psychotherapy, cognitive rehabilitation, neurologic consultation, or psychiatric assessment. Recommendations in the report are carried out by your own physicians and treating providers.
Arranging an evaluation
A letter of medical necessity or a physician's office note is required. Our office verifies your insurance benefits before anything is scheduled. Prefer to talk it through first? Call (631) 366-3369.