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With the expected worldwide rise in all-cause dementia to approximately 152.8 million by the year 2050 and the potential for disease-modifying therapies such as anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies, there will be an increased demand on neurologists and memory clinics to rapidly identify and stage patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias. While neuropsychological assessment provides information that is essential to the patient and the clinician, substantial barriers remain, including a shortage of trained neuropsychologists, lengthy test batteries and the delayed turnaround of written reports.

To address these issues, researchers at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine have found that a one‑hour memory test could help doctors identify early memory and thinking problems in veterans.

"Shorter, traditional screening tests are still useful, but they can miss some important problems. When someone notices changes in memory or daily life abilities, a longer, more comprehensive one‑hour test can provide a clearer picture and help guide next steps," explains corresponding author Brandon Frank, Ph.D., assistant professor of neurology at the school.

The researchers analyzed the results of 1,858 veterans tested in a Veterans Affairs memory clinic between 2017 and 2025. When compared to the one-hour neurobehavioral status exam (NBSE), shorter tests like the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) often missed signs of mild cognitive impairment or dementia. For example, among veterans who scored in the "normal" range on the MoCA, 40% were found to have mild cognitive impairment and nearly 9% were found to have dementia after taking the longer NBSE.

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