Language Patterns in Memory Tests May Indicate Early Cognitive Dysfunction

Clinicians and researchers use standardized tests to assess memory and thinking ability. In one commonly used memory test, a short story is read to patients, and then they try to recall it from memory. Their responses are scored by counting the number of story details each patient remembers. However, this scoring ignores a wealth of information about how the person responded, such as the use of complex or simple sentences, repetition of story details or admissions that they forgot pieces of the story with comments such as "I forgot her name."