A neurologist has revealed that a "simple" drawing test could indicate if a person is living with dementia. Dementia is marked by a gradual decline in cognitive function, more often seen in people above the age of 65, leading to memory issues, behavioural shifts, and even difficulties with movement.

Definitive diagnosis of dementia requires professional medical evaluation. However, cognitive deterioration can be screened for using this test.

US-based neurologist Doctor Baibing Chen, widely recognised on social media as Dr Bing, explained more. He advised that a “clock drawing test” could be one way to identify dementia.

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Dr Bing said: "This may sound simple where I just ask a patient draw a clock showing a specific time. If somebody has difficulty with spatial organisation, attention and planning, such as those with Alzheimer's disease, this task can be very difficult."

This test, which has been used by medical professionals for decades, requires a pencil and either a blank piece of paper or a piece of paper with a pre-drawn circle on it. First, the person will be asked to draw the numbers on the face of the clock.

Then they will be asked to draw the hands to show a specific time. If someone struggles, this could indicate mental decline.

A review of existing studies published in Dementia & Neuropsychologia in 2009, analysed the reliability of the clock drawing test (referred to as CDT). Study authors wrote: “The Clock Drawing Test (CDT) is a simple neuropsychometric instrument that can be easily applied to assess several cognitive functions.

“Over the past 20 years, the CDT has aroused considerable interest in its role for the early screening of cognitive impairment, especially in dementia.” They concluded: “Twelve studies were selected for analyses.

“Seven of these studies compared CDT scoring scales while five compared the CDT against the CAMCOG and the MMSE. Eight studies found good correlation and reliability between the scales and the other tests.

“Despite the mixed results in these studies, the CDT appears to be a good screening test for dementia.” This was not the only dementia test Dr Bing spoke about in his video.

Leg stand test

Dr Bing said: "Difficulty standing on one leg for at least 30 seconds has been linked to a higher risk of dementia and stroke." He elaborated that an inability to do so may reveal minor deficits in brain regions that govern balance and motor abilities.

Smell test

Moving on to the smell test, he suggested that since early stages of dementia can impact the brain's olfactory region, trouble with identifying smells might signal neural degeneration, as seen in conditions like Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease.

Dual-task gait test

Dual-task gait test involves having a person walk while simultaneously performing a

cognitive task, like counting backwards. Dr Bing stated: "Difficulty with this task can indicate problems with executive function, memory or attention."

Verbal fluency test

He said: "An example of such a test is a category fluency test where I ask the patient to name as many items as possible within a category, such as animals in one minute. Difficulties in recalling words within a set time frame can indicate cognitive decline in certain regions of the brain, such as those affected by Alzheimer's disease or frontal temporal dementia."