How Memory Exam works
Simple and empowering
With Memory Exam, instructions are spoken aloud and your answers are recorded by voice, using Intraneuron's patented speech recognition. Nothing is typed, nothing is clicked and there is no writing to do.
It takes 10–15 minutes start to finish, in one sitting.
Why verbal testing is better
Verbal memory is one of the first things to change in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. Testing it properly means asking someone to listen, hold words in their mind and say them back, which is exactly what a clinical neuropsychologist does in person.
A written or multiple-choice quiz cannot do this. Passing these types of tests may miss early cognitive change.
Speaking your answers means the exam can score free recall, the same thing a clinician captures with a scoresheet. This is where Memory Exam steps in, with its patented technology.
The mistakes themselves can tell us something. Researchers found that the specific errors people made when recalling a list of words, including naming words that were never on the list, helped predict who would develop mild cognitive impairment within five years. This link remained even after accounting for age, education, day-to-day functioning, overall test scores and brain markers associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Where this information comes from
Albert MS, DeKosky ST, Dickson D, and others. The diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease: recommendations from the National Institute on Aging and Alzheimer's Association workgroups. Alzheimer's & Dementia 2011;7(3).
Thomas KR, Eppig J, Edmonds EC, and others. Word-list intrusion errors predict progression to mild cognitive impairment. Neuropsychology 2018;32(2).
Easy to take, at home
Because Memory Exam is always available and takes 10–15 minutes to complete, you'll have more time to schedule the things you enjoy.
What happens during the exam
- A sound check. The exam confirms it can hear you before anything is scored.
- Listening and recall. You hear a set of words and say back the ones you remember. This repeats, so the exam can see how much you learn across attempts, not just what you retained on the first pass.
- Fluency. You name as many items in a category as you can within a short time.
- Delayed recall. Later in the exam you are asked for those words again, after your attention has been elsewhere.
The gap between what you learned and what you kept is often the most informative part of the whole exam.
How your answers are scored
Your spoken answers are transcribed and then scored against normative data, which is what people of your age and educational background typically achieve.
This comparison is exactly the point. A raw number of words recalled means very little on its own. The same score can be entirely expected at age 78 and worth a conversation with a doctor or healthcare provider at age 52.
The technology is covered by United States patents 11,547,345 and 12,226,221, and the approach has been evaluated against standard neuropsychological assessment in peer-reviewed research.
What you need
- A smartphone, tablet or computer with a microphone and speakers
- A current browser. Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox are all verified.
- A quiet room, because background noise interferes with recording your answers.
- 10–15 minutes when you will not be interrupted.
There is no app to install, and no special hardware. Headphones are fine, but not required.
What to remember
Memory Exam is a screening test, not a diagnosis. It can show whether your memory performance differs from what is expected for your age and background. It cannot tell you why.
Only a clinician can diagnose a cause. If your results suggest a change, take them to your qualified doctor or healthcare provider.
Where to go next
Memory Exam is 10–15 minutes and taken at home.
If you are still deciding, compare it against other memory tests or read how your data is protected.
