Animal Fluency Tests & Dementia

To assess for the early stages of cognitive impairment or dementia, the animal fluency test is a useful diagnostic tool and is recommended for use in clinical practice when an accurate and quick assessment is needed.

Process

• The animal fluency test is a 60-second cognitive test.

  The animal fluency test is generally administered by a psychiatric clinician or social worker and involves the patient naming as many animals as possible within a 60-second time period. The clinician records the number of animals named. If the patient named 15 or fewer animals within the 60-second time frame this may indicate early stages of dementia or the development of a cognitive impairment.

Importance

• Consult a professional for a complete neurological assessment.

  Due to the simplicity of this test, anyone can implement it, but you should be careful not to attempt to diagnose people based on this test alone as there can be many other influencing factors to be considered. A clinical psychiatrist or other clinical practitioner may use this test as part of an overall profile that may include other cognitive and neurological tests before a final diagnosis is determined.

Effectiveness

• The mini-mental state examination (MMSE) is the most common diagnostic tool used in assessing dementia but is often criticized for its lack of sensitivity to detect mild impairment and its cultural, social and educational inconsistencies. The animal fluency test can accurately distinguish individuals with dementia with the same level of sensitivity as the MMSE.