Neuropsychological assessment, or cognitive testing, is the gold standard tool for measuring cognitive functions (or the “software” of the brain) such as memory, language, attention, visuospatial skills, decision-making, intellectual ability, and multitasking. Neuropsychological assessment is also essential in determining whether cognitive changes are normal, age-related, or potentially consistent with a disorder such as mild cognitive impairment, dementia, or other conditions. Here are a few points about neuropsychological testing that may be helpful to consider in light of the recent increased dialogue and media interest in the topic.

Myth: Cognitive disorders are straightforward to diagnose based on a brief test.

Fact: Multiple tools are necessary to accurately measure cognitive functioning and determine an accurate diagnosis.

When cognitive concerns or symptoms are present, multiple diagnostic tools are often used to measure cognitive functioning and determine a diagnosis, including neuropsychological assessment, neuroimaging, and laboratory tests. Neuropsychological testing is as valid and reliable as blood tests and neuroimaging. Together, the use of multiple tools is referred to as an assessment (as opposed to a test, which implies that a single measure is being analyzed, which is less diagnostically accurate than considering........

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