What is the benefit of a Neuropsychological testing?

Posted by DanL @tunared, Mar 8, 2021

my wife has an upcoming Neuropsychological test and is very nervous (and very anxious) about the test. She (and I) would like to know what is the benefit to her for taking this type of test? She knows her memory is not what it was 5-10 years ago and doesn't understand why she should take the test. She thinks they are using her as a guinea pig with this type of test. I cannot provide her with any benefits that would come from taking the test. Can anyone help?

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@IndianaScott

Hello @doclax I'm Scott and I'm glad you found Mayo Connect. I found Connect when I was struggling to find solid support/advice for me as a long-term caregiver.

My wife fought a war with brain cancer for 14 1/2 years with many of her symptoms being similar to those of dementia patients, such as was the case with my MIL. Her neuro docs also recommended neuropsych testing for her and while it was not her favorite part of her visits, she did agree to do them. In talking to her when she was deciding, she told me there were two things that motivated her to do them. First, she knew the results helped me, as her caregiver, understand where things stood and what changes had occurred since the last test. Kind of a road map of where we were and how fast or in what direction we were now headed. It did help me as kind of an early-warning system for what might be coming our way. Her second motivation was the fact she was treated at Mayo and as a teaching hospital, she hoped her results would someday help other patients, doctors, researchers, and caregivers in similar situations to hers.

I know every patient and their journeys are unique, but I share my wife's experiences in the hopes it will help someone along the line here.

Strength, Courage, & Peace

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Thank you for sharing your experience with this topic. My husband doesn't agree easily for any testing and doubts the results when he is tested. In fact, he tells me that he is "just as he has always been" and I "am the one changing!" I suppose he is partially right as we all change as the years go by. We are soon to be going in for another check-in/evaluation with his Mayo neurologist and I am hoping to find out how far we have advanced on our Parkinson/Lewy Body Dementia journey. Though we have had several Zoom appointments over the last year and a half, I find the in person visits reveal more information to the doctors. I wish my husband, who is a retired educational leader, would have the same attitudes towards testing as your wife. It would be so helpful to me. Take care and thanks again for sharing your experience.

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@hbjuniperflat

Thank you for sharing your experience with this topic. My husband doesn't agree easily for any testing and doubts the results when he is tested. In fact, he tells me that he is "just as he has always been" and I "am the one changing!" I suppose he is partially right as we all change as the years go by. We are soon to be going in for another check-in/evaluation with his Mayo neurologist and I am hoping to find out how far we have advanced on our Parkinson/Lewy Body Dementia journey. Though we have had several Zoom appointments over the last year and a half, I find the in person visits reveal more information to the doctors. I wish my husband, who is a retired educational leader, would have the same attitudes towards testing as your wife. It would be so helpful to me. Take care and thanks again for sharing your experience.

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My pleasure, @hbjuniperflat I wish you all the best with your follow-ups! Let me know if you have any other questions as I am always willing to share what we learned during our journey,
Strength, Courage, & Peace

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@larryh123

Hello:
I am am Lewy Body dementia patient. Early onset - diagnosed at 57. Now 3 years into it.
It’s great that your wife can help with things. I get a good feelin when i feel that i have contributed.

For me - the neuropsych tests are used to
1) look at the areas of the brain that are involved - for me executive functioning is the main area with deficits in other areas which can help steer toward one diagnosis
2) track progression - I have progressed from mild impairment to moderate impairment

At some point, you have to think of putting themselves through hours of testing annually. This is on my mind as well at this point.

Stay safe and well.
Larry H.

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My husband has been through the neuro-psyche testing at least three times. He dreads it for days before it actually happens. I try to help him with the anxiety and try to provide some coping skills (this is not a test to enter college- just enjoy the time you are with the testers, etc ). He did tell them he would like to skip the math portion from now on and that was fine with them and with me. As his caregiver and as a former teacher, the testing is very beneficial to me. It does help with getting a handle on the progression of the disease and takes away some guesswork of the pace of decline. It helps to find things he can do well as it identifies areas of strength and helps me to capitalize on them. It also provides ideas of how to help him cope as some skills become weaker....and it helps me to try to be more patient and compassionate...some days are easier than others. I just keep reminding myself of how grateful I am to have had the once in a lifetime opportunity to be a part of this amazing man's life. He has taken very good care of our family, and I treasure this time to be his help mate through this part of our journey.

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I loved your comment "I just keep reminding myself of how grateful I am ...." My wife is in the late stage of Alzheimer's Disease and I love her more than ever just the way she is. I put a note on her mirror "How great is God's goodness to have given you to me to love for a lifetime!"

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@fwentz

I loved your comment "I just keep reminding myself of how grateful I am ...." My wife is in the late stage of Alzheimer's Disease and I love her more than ever just the way she is. I put a note on her mirror "How great is God's goodness to have given you to me to love for a lifetime!"

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This is lovely.

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@fwentz

I loved your comment "I just keep reminding myself of how grateful I am ...." My wife is in the late stage of Alzheimer's Disease and I love her more than ever just the way she is. I put a note on her mirror "How great is God's goodness to have given you to me to love for a lifetime!"

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"How great is God's goodness...on her mirror! What a sweet thought....I am going to "mirror" you and do the same thing! As an added thought, my mom had the following saying engraved inside my dad's wedding band: "I love you twice as much today as I did yesterday and only 1/2 as much as tomorrow." I never knew how that was written on the inside of his band but a true jeweler must have been quite skilled. She always put "2x- 1/2" on anything she ever wrote to him. She died 2 years ago and dad (age 94) still wears the ring that has only been taken off for surgeries. (Please forgive this melancholic moment -but all of us need these little tidbits to remind us of how fortunate we are even on the difficult days. )

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@teacher502

My husband has been through the neuro-psyche testing at least three times. He dreads it for days before it actually happens. I try to help him with the anxiety and try to provide some coping skills (this is not a test to enter college- just enjoy the time you are with the testers, etc ). He did tell them he would like to skip the math portion from now on and that was fine with them and with me. As his caregiver and as a former teacher, the testing is very beneficial to me. It does help with getting a handle on the progression of the disease and takes away some guesswork of the pace of decline. It helps to find things he can do well as it identifies areas of strength and helps me to capitalize on them. It also provides ideas of how to help him cope as some skills become weaker....and it helps me to try to be more patient and compassionate...some days are easier than others. I just keep reminding myself of how grateful I am to have had the once in a lifetime opportunity to be a part of this amazing man's life. He has taken very good care of our family, and I treasure this time to be his help mate through this part of our journey.

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Hello @teacher502 and @larryh123, my husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease about two years ago, after an MRI and a day of neuropsychological testing. It was gruelling for him, but useful at the time, as it confirmed the diagnosis, which I wanted to deny. His disease is progressing slowly and his memory comes and goes. Yesterday he knew who the people I was talking about were, whereas he did not know who they were the day before. He stopped driving without a fight and has stepped down from managing our finances. In our current situation, I don't think more neuropsychological testing would be beneficial. It would involve a flight to another island, take two days, and upset him. He does have a low tolerance for doing difficult things and changes in routine upset him. He still functions well around the house, helps me with chores when I ask, and overall, has a pleasant disposition.

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@tunared

Thanks everyone for your comments. My wife of 52+ years has gone through all the normal physical (MRI, blood, ENT, etc) tests and the results from her Neurologist is she has MCI. The Neurologist has also stated that: 1, there is no cure; 2, no one can project how the disease will progress; 3, (and my favorite) if you have seen one case of MCI, then you have only seen one case of MCI because each MCI patients is unique.
My wife did have the neuropsych tests back in 2014 & 2015 but nothing really beneficial came from the tests. Other than MCI, she is very healthy and exercises at the gym 4-5 days a week. I do 99% of the driving and we are enjoying everyday by doing something fun and/or different. Some of the psychologists she has seen want to try her on various drugs but she has decided not to be a guinea pig for the drug companies. If her neurologist is correct and there is no current medication proven to cure or slow the progression of MCI, then why spend 3-6 anxious hours taking a neuropsych test?

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Hello!
Speaking as the person who administers these tests, it can actually be very helpful to have a diagnosis. There are multiple types of cognitive impairments, and each one has its own unique presentation and associated symptoms. Knowing what you are dealing with can help with safety issues (eg keeping someone from getting lost), financial concerns (eg who remembers to pays bills, and if the affected person requires additional assistance), and how to help plan ahead (eg keeping a big calendar in the kitchen or making a stable routine). Some cognitive impairments may mean someone is at greater risk for certain types of dementia. Each one progresses differently. Knowing in advance can help you, your partner, and your healthcare team know what to look for.
Testing can also give you an objective baseline you can reference back to in a year or so to see how quickly (if at all) someone is declining. The assessments can occasionally be aggravating for sure. I always tell my patients that NO ONE gets everything right; everyone has strengths and weaknesses. And if it wasn't hard, they wouldn't be here. They are designed to find people's limits. Lastly, even if you can't get through hours of testing, at least ask for a [quick!] screening test to help get you in the ball park until all parties are ready to do the full thing.

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My wife went through a 3 hour test back in 2020 and this was not her 1st test. She was extremely anxious about the 2021 test and I talked her out of it. Her Neurologist went over the results of tests with us but we can't see the benefit of another test or having her stress about another one. I want each one of her days to be a good day and not one she has to stress over (I'll take that job).

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When we began the diagnostic journey, I made 2 appts for 3 hour testing for my husband. One with the geriatrician and the other with a neuropsychologist. We went to the first- no prep or practice. Neither of us slept the night before. The doctor began with a casual interview with both of us then sent my husband back with the social worker. They did what was equal to the mini mental and Moca but no three hours. He got 26 out of 30. Failed the clock test- we never worked on that as many suggested. I think this was best for honest results. He also missed on a few other areas. I spent time with the doctor and in the end of a three hour appt he was diagnosed with MCI, and a driving test recommended.
In the meantime we found another neuropsychologist as a therapist and he said there was no need to put him through three more hours so I cancelled the second appt for testing.
Since then he has had a driving test which included more testing on cognition and reflexes and all. He passed while I was praying in every way I could. With limits- drive only familiar roads; no night driving; and no driving in inclement weather otherwise good job.
Then we see two neurosychogists regularly who agree no more testing but no question he has MCI. MRI shows ischemic vascular changes.
Through the geriatrician, he is eligible for a speech therapist who does cognitive therapy with him weekly. At that time they work on all aspects of cognition and essentially it’s like more evaluation. They work on brain games, logic, processing thinking etc.
I think it’s important to get a diagnosis and determine areas that are showing impairment, but math, one of his strong areas is going. I am now taking charge of finances ( another area where he was brilliant and many consulted him). Now I am meeting with our advisors to turn over management of our portfolio. Sad for him but he is fine for me to go by myself now.
I need to go now. But hope this helps.

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