Worried about your own memory — or noticing changes in someone you love? This free self-check asks 20 questions about everyday memory, language, judgment, and mood changes compared with a few years ago. It takes about 3 minutes, runs entirely in your browser (your answers are never sent or stored anywhere), and ends with a concern score, a plain-language breakdown, and a printable summary you can take to a doctor.
This is an educational awareness tool, not a medical test. It cannot diagnose dementia — only a clinician can. If you notice sudden confusion that appeared over hours or days, seek medical care now rather than using any online tool.
What this self-check is — and what it isn't
Every question above is original and asks about change from your own baseline — the signal doctors care about most. This is deliberately not a memory test: it is not the MoCA, MMSE, SAGE, or Mini-Cog, and it borrows nothing from them. Those are clinical instruments that must be administered and scored by a trained professional to mean anything. What a browser tool can do honestly is organize your observations, weigh them the way an intake conversation would, and tell you whether the pattern is worth a doctor's time.
Your answers never leave this page. There is no account, no email capture, and nothing is transmitted or stored — close the tab and your answers are gone.
What a real cognitive evaluation involves
A typical evaluation starts with a 5–15 minute standardized screening — most memory clinics now use the MoCA rather than the older MMSE because it catches early changes about a year sooner. Your doctor should also order blood work to rule out treatable causes (thyroid, B12) and may add imaging. Depending on results, the next step is a fuller work-up — here is how to prepare a loved one for cognitive testing — or a referral for neuropsychological testing. Score guides: MoCA score interpretation, the MMSE score chart, and Mini-Cog vs MMSE. Tempted to try the real thing yourself first? Read why the MoCA can't be self-administered at home.
When to skip the self-check and call a doctor
- Sudden confusion that developed over hours or days — this can signal infection, stroke, or medication trouble and needs same-day care.
- Getting lost in a familiar place, even once.
- A fall plus new confusion, or new confusion after starting a medication.
- Safety incidents — a stove left on, wandering, giving money to strangers.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a real dementia test?
No. It is an educational self-check of warning signs. Real cognitive tests are standardized instruments given in person by a clinician, and dementia is only diagnosed from testing plus history, labs, and often imaging.
Is this the MoCA test?
No. The MoCA is a copyrighted clinical instrument that requires a trained administrator. This self-check uses entirely original questions about everyday changes and produces an awareness score, not a clinical score.
Are my answers private?
Yes. The tool runs entirely in your browser. Answers are never transmitted, stored, or shared, and there is no sign-up.
What score means someone has dementia?
No score on this or any online quiz can mean someone has dementia. A high concern score means the pattern of changes is worth prompt medical attention — several treatable conditions, from thyroid disease to depression, produce the same picture.
What's the difference between normal aging and a warning sign?
Normal aging: occasionally misplacing keys, needing a moment to find a word, forgetting a name but recalling it later. Warning signs: forgetting entire events, getting lost on familiar routes, new trouble managing money, and changes other people notice. Change from a person's own baseline matters more than any single slip.
Does Medicare cover cognitive testing?
Yes. Cognitive impairment detection is a required part of the free Medicare Annual Wellness Visit, and Medicare also pays for a separate, longer cognitive assessment visit (no referral needed) when a concern is found.
Medical disclaimer: HelpDementia.com provides educational information only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician or qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition.