Learn more about MemTrax: A unique Memory screening test
MemTrax Memory Screening Test has been administered to over 2,000 individuals and provides a reliable estimate of memory problems. It has been shown to be sensitive to the clinical memory problem that affects patients with Alzheimer’s disease, therefore providing early indications of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
The MemTrax Memory Screening Test has been under development since 1999. It was initially piloted as a computer-based test on over 100 subjects with a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease who had been assessed with several cognitive tests, including the MiniMental-State Exam.
The MemTrax memory test was found to reliably indicate the presence of significant memory impairment, and poor performance (below 75%) seen in 100% of dementia patients taking the test.
Those patients with Alzheimer type dementia had poor performance mostly due to failures to remember having seen pictures before, errors of omission (false-negative errors). Patients with a fronto-temporal type of dementia performed differently in that they made more errors of commission (false-positive errors)
Subsequently, the MemTrax test has been used extensively in a slide-presentation format, administered to over 2,000 individuals with data from over 1,000 individuals carefully analyzed with respect to age, education, and gender, and the results have been presented at several national and international meetings, for example http://www.medafile.com/memcap/JWApACNP08b.ppt
Most elderly individuals (70%) score better than 90% on the MemTrax test, while an additional 15% score between 80% and 90% correct. The remaining 15% are considered to be individuals who are suspicious for having significant memory problems.
The test is well-received by audiences and test-takers in general, with nearly unanimous opinions that the test is fun to take, and occasional repeat audience members comment that they have no problem taking the test again, unlike the responses to the memory tests in general use.
Recent publications
- Ashford JW, Gere E, Bayley PJ., Measuring Memory in Large Group Settings Using a Continuous Recognition Test, J Alzheimers Dis., IOS Press, 2011 Sep 9.
- Martin, R., Rose, T. L., Kaib S., Vogelman, J., Wetherell, A., Ashford, J. W., Reliability of Online MemTrax Digital Photo Recognition, Word Recognition and H-Scan Screening Tests, Northern California Alzheimer Association, Stanford University, June 28, 2011
- Rose, T. L., Martin, R., Kaib S., Bayley, P. J., Ashford, J. W., Analysis of a continuous recognition test using photographs: Test-retest reliability and variability, inter-test consistency, and signal-detection theory parameters, Northern California Alzheimer Association, Stanford University, June 28, 2011
- Ashford JW, Screening Tools for MCI, international conference on alzheimer's disease (ICAD), 2010
- Ashford JW et al. Screening for Memory Disorders, Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease, Aging Health 4(4), 2008, 399-432
- Ashford JW et al.Should older adults be screened for dementia? It is important to screen for evidence of dementia!