Why isn't cognitive health part of your annual checkup?
Your doctor checks your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar. But what about your brain health? Here's why cognitive screening deserves a place in your preventive health routine - and how you can take the first step at home.
You probably know your blood pressure. You might know your cholesterol levels, blood sugar, and resting heart rate, too. But when was the last time you checked your cognitive health?
For many adults over 60, the answer is never.
Routine health checkups are designed to monitor many important aspects of your health. Yet cognitive health often receives less attention unless you already see big changes in memory, concentration, or thinking.
That leaves an important question: Why wait until something feels wrong to start paying attention to your brain health?
Cognitive screening is one way to start understanding how your brain is functioning today - and take a more proactive approach to healthy aging.
What does your annual checkup actually tell you about your brain?
A routine health checkup can reveal a great deal about your physical health. These checks matter for your brain, too. High blood pressure, diabetes, and elevated cholesterol are among the factors associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
But measuring these risk factors is not the same as assessing your cognitive function. While your doctor may ask how you're feeling, subtle changes in cognitive health can be difficult to recognize during a routine appointment.
What about cognitive tests like MoCA?
Doctors do have tools for assessing cognitive function. One example is the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Other commonly used tools include the Mini-Cog and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).
These assessments can be valuable when someone reports significant memory concerns, a family member notices changes, or a healthcare professional suspects cognitive impairment. They can identify later-stage cognitive changes, but have a lower sensitivity to detect early signs of cognitive decline.
Also, they aren't necessarily part of every routine checkup. The National Institute on Aging notes that cognitive assessment practices vary, and many older adults who do not report memory concerns are never formally assessed.
None of this means that traditional cognitive tests are ineffective. They play an important role in clinical care. It means there is room to make preventive cognitive screening more common.
Why checking your cognitive health before symptoms appear matters
Think about how you approach the rest of your health. You shouldn't wait until you develop heart problems to start monitoring your blood pressure. You can work on your fitness before you become unwell. Brain health deserves a similar approach.
Almost half of dementia cases could potentially be prevented or delayed
A 2024 report from The Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention, and care estimated that addressing 14 modifiable risk factors could potentially prevent or delay around 45% of dementia cases worldwide.
These risk factors include high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, physical inactivity, diabetes, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, hearing loss, untreated vision loss, and social isolation.
This figure is a population-level estimate, not a guarantee that any individual can prevent dementia. Genetics, age, and other factors also influence risk. However, the findings highlight an important opportunity: there are meaningful steps people can take to support their long-term brain health.
What can you do to support your brain health?
You don't need to overhaul your entire lifestyle overnight. Small, consistent changes can help you build healthier habits over time.
- Move your body regularly.
- Prioritize quality sleep.
- Eat a balanced, heart-healthy diet.
- Monitor your cardiovascular health.
- Stay socially and mentally engaged.
- Address hearing and vision problems.
These habits are beneficial at different stages of life. While starting earlier creates more opportunities to address risk factors over time, it's never too late to make positive changes. But where should you start if you don't know how your cognitive health is doing today?
That's where cognitive screening can help.
Meet Mamsa: a simple way to check your cognitive health at home
Mamsa offers a way to take that first step: an at-home clinically validated cognitive screening designed to help you better understand your cognitive health.
How does Mamsa's cognitive screening work?
Step 1: Record your voice for one minute.
You'll receive a link by email. Open it on your phone, follow the instructions, and describe a picture aloud in your own words. There's no app to download.
Step 2: Receive your results within 24 hours.
The clinically validated technology analyzes speech characteristics, including tone, rhythm, fluency, articulation, and hesitation to find early signs of cognitive decline with 94% precision.
Step 3: Use your results as a starting point for action.
Your screening will reveal whether your voice shows early signs of Mild Cognitive Impariment or Alzheimer's. Based on results you'll get a personalized plan to help you improve your cognitive health trough research-backed lifestyle habits. If your results indicate significant concerns, we’ll recommend consulting your doctor for further evaluation.
Check your cognitive health with Mamsa →
