The Cognitive Function Test (CFT) is a validated online test, followed by a ‘Dementia Risk Index’ (DRI) questionnaire. The CFT measures a person’s actual cognitive function, while the DRI allows a calculation of future risk to be calculated, based only on aspects of a person’s diet and lifestyle that a person can change. The ‘worst’ risk is 100%, the best risk is 0%. (We do ask about things like head trauma, ApoE4 but these are not included in the DR index calculation.) This free test then shows the person what is driving their risk, with some advice as to how to lower it. The CFT and DRI were developed in conjunction with our Scientific Advisory Board. There is solid science behind these tools explain in this article ‘What is the Scientific Basis of the Cognitive Function Test, Dementia Risk Index and COGNITION?‘
As a health practitioner, or organisation in the health education space, you can apply to Prescribe COGNITION to your patient/client base. When accepted, we then give you a unique URL of your choice (eg foodforthebrain.org/drsmith). Your client’s experience is the same as any other but they are ’tagged’ to you.
Through our Research Database home page you will then be able to log in and see various information for your group (not the individuals as they become anonymised, both for GDPR and other ethical requirements for research). This includes how many have done it, their age, sex, mean CFT, DRI score and their spread of risk across eight domains. You will also be able to track, across time, changes to all these. Our hope it that you will target your group to make positive diet and lifestyle changes, especially in the weakest domains, and we are here to support you with the tools to help you do so. You have now become a both an Ambassador and Citizen Scientist, as have all your clients, for Alzheimer’s prevention. Thank you!
You need to a) do the test and b) make a donation to become a Friend of Food for the Brain (£50 a year). Being a Friend is a requirement to be able to login to the Research database, but also gives you access to our personalised, interactive behaviour change programme COGNITION where you will learn how to best positively change your client’s behaviours. We have an Applied Behaviour Change team as part of our Research Team, constantly working out what works so we can make COGNITION more and more effective. Some of your clients may choose to join COGNITION by donating to the charity and becoming a Friend. That is their choice. It is these donations that allow us to do all we are doing. You, yourself, are not selling them anything. That is important. As a GP, for example, you are allowed to text all your patients to encourage them to do the free test which is in their best interests and will, ultimately, lessen your work load by helping to prevent cognitive decline.
To register to Prescribe COGNITION please complete the form below, giving the URL you would like to use. There is an approval process that then follows. This will also show you all the referenced science behind the tests and give you materials to share with your clients such as example ’texts’ and fuller explanations.
Please complete the form if you are considering Prescribing COGNITION. We will get back to you within 5 working days.
