AAC Cognitive Assessment & Screening 2

Question 1

Which cognitive domain does the Clock Drawing Test primarily evaluate?

Accepted Answer

Visuospatial and executive function

Answer

The Clock Drawing Test assesses visuospatial abilities and executive function by requiring the person to plan and reproduce a clock face.

Question 2

A patient scores 20/30 on the MMSE. According to standard cutoffs, this score most likely indicates:

Accepted Answer

Moderate dementia

Answer

MMSE scores of 18–23 generally indicate mild dementia, while scores of 10–17 indicate moderate dementia; a score of 20 falls in the mild-to-moderate range, most commonly classified as moderate dementia.

Question 3

The MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) was specifically designed to detect:

Accepted Answer

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI)

Answer

The MoCA was developed to identify mild cognitive impairment, which the MMSE often misses due to its lower sensitivity at the mild end of the spectrum.

Question 4

When administering a cognitive screening tool, which factor most commonly inflates a person's score, masking true impairment?

Accepted Answer

High premorbid education and intelligence

Answer

High premorbid education and intelligence can allow individuals to compensate on screening tests, producing scores that appear normal despite underlying decline.

Question 5

Which of the following is a BRIEF, validated 3-item screening tool often used in primary care for memory concerns?

Accepted Answer

Mini-Cog

Answer

The Mini-Cog combines a 3-word recall with a Clock Drawing Test, making it a rapid and effective primary care screen for dementia.

(AAC) Alzheimer's Association Certification Practice Test

(AAC) Alzheimer's Association Certification Practice Test

AAC Cognitive Assessment & Screening 2