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 explained in this article ‘What is the Scientific Basis of the Cognitive Function Test, Dementia Risk Index and COGNITION?‘
As a GP, health practitioner, or organisation in the health space, you can apply to Prescribe COGNITION to your patient/client base. When accepted, we then give you a unique URL of your choice (within our naming parameters). Your client’s experience is the same as any other but they are ’tagged’ to you. your clients can then take the free, online Cognitive Function Test and receive their results via email and in their personal data. They can re-take the test every 6 months and track their cognitive function over time.
We are working hard to establish our Research Database. In the future, it is our hope that you will then be able to log in and see various anonymised 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 is it that you will, with the help of COGNITION, 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 a COGNITION Prescriber and it also gives you access to our personalised, interactive behaviour change programme COGNITION and learn how the COGNITION programme can positively change your client’s behaviours. We have Applied behaviour change experts as part of our COGNITION 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 your interest to Prescribe COGNITION please complete the form below. We will also provide you with all the referenced science behind the tests and give materials to share with your clients such as FAQs, example ’texts’ and fuller explanations.
