Cognitive Function Tests: Assessing and Supporting Your Brain Health

The brain is one of the most powerful and complex organs in the body. It produces every thought, memory, and feeling we experience. Yet despite its remarkable power, the brain can sometimes struggle to function optimally, leading to concerns about cognitive decline.  Cognitive function tests, also called cognitive screening tests or neuropsychological assessments, can help uncover how your brain is performing. These tests provide insight into your attention, memory, executive function, processing speed, and other cognitive domains, helping you understand your strengths as well as areas that may need support.

After all, the brain comprises a staggering one hundred billion nerve cells, making up nearly 60 trillion neural connections. This complexity can sometimes make it challenging to pinpoint why we feel or act as we do. For those concerned about mental decline, these assessments may also help answer an important question: Can cognitive impairment be reversed?  Cognitive function tests can help paint a clearer picture of where your brain health currently stands and, more importantly, where to go from there.

With the right interventions and evidence-based protocols, including specialized therapies, some aspects of cognitive decline can indeed be improved. Understanding your cognitive health through testing is the first step toward proactive brain care and meaningful improvement.

What Is a Cognitive Function Test? 

A cognitive function test is a screening tool that explores your cognitive abilities. It aims to learn how your brain works and helps assess which areas of cognitive functioning are strong and which may need support. 

As you age, these assessments can diagnose the main symptoms presenting in cases of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or other specific conditions. But for a conclusive diagnosis, other measures, such as imaging and medical tests, are needed as well. 

Why Should You Consider a Cognitive Function Screening? 

A cognitive function test may be performed if there are signs and symptoms of mental decline or impairment. Someone may also want to gain more information about their cognitive health. 

Maybe you’ve noticed changes in yourself or your loved one; perhaps you have a family history of cognitive decline diagnoses and want insight into your own brain health. These are valid reasons to seek a test. 

Think of these test results as insightful data. Cognitive function tests may help unveil areas you may want to improve. We want to emphasize that results from these assessments shouldn’t make you feel incapable or point out your shortcomings; they’re to help you learn more about your brain capabilities and encourage a discussion with your medical team. 

Key Cognitive Domains to Assess

Remember, there is no one single cognitive function test. Rather, there are various types of tests, each one designed to measure one or several specific cognitive functions. These could include the following: 

• Attention: Your level of alertness and ability to attend to targets and disregard noise or distractions
• Information processing speed: How quickly you receive, understand, and react to information 
• Memory: The level at which you encode and recall information
• Executive functions: Your ability to apply information, compare, and make sound judgments
• Spatial skills: How you lean on visual cues and senses to make decisions

Types of Cognitive Function Tests Used in Clinical Settings

Here are some examples of cognitive function tests that may be performed in a clinical setting: 

• Verbal Memory: How well can you recognize, remember, and retrieve words?
  • Recall appointment times
  • Remember to take medications

• Psychomotor Speed: Can you precisely use tools and perform mental and physical coordination?
  • Drive a car
  • Play a musical instrument

• Processing Speed: How well do you process information?
  • React to possible risks
  • Respond to issues accurately  

• Simple Visual Attention: How is your ability to track something quickly and accurately?
  • Self-regulation
  • Simple attention control

• Motor Speed: Are you able to move how you intend to move?
  • Manual dexterity actions

Such tests could be included in the following test batteries:

• Neurotrax – A computerized test for cognitive assessment used in research and clinical settings.
• CNS Vital Signs – A computerized battery for cognitive assessment used broadly in clinical settings.
• CANTAB – Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery, administered on a tablet.

Other short screening tests of cognitive functions include:

• MOCA – Montreal Cognitive Assessment is a short paper-and-pencil test, administered on a tablet.
• MMSE – Mini Mental State Examination is also a short paper-and-pencil test.
• Mini-Cog: A short computerized cognitive screening test.

Aviv Clinics employs several of the above assessments, including Neurotrax, CANTAB and MOCA, when performing cognitive assessments on our clients. These tests establish a baseline and indicate potential areas for improvement.

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What Your Cognitive Function Tests Results Really Mean

As noted earlier, cognitive function tests look for cognitive strengths and potential areas of decline.  You can use cognitive test results to initiate a conversation with your doctor, who can help you plan the next steps. The goal is to paint an overall picture of the patient’s health to understand factors that may drive cognitive decline.

Since each person is different, taking a deeper dive with a professional is essential. Just like you can’t Google your symptoms to diagnose yourself, you can’t take a cognitive test to diagnose any conditions. You can read more about what neuropsychologists look for when assessing a patient’s cognition.

Depending on your results, your health specialist may order additional tests or review your medical history to clarify your situation and determine any support you may need. 

What Cognitive Function Tests Don’t Show

Cognitive function tests do not show: 

• Why you might have cognitive impairment 
• What areas of the brain carry the impairment 
• What condition may be causing cognitive impairment
• Whether the impairment is hereditary or acquired

Only a physician or neuropsychologist can address these areas.
To learn more, contact Aviv Clinics.

How to Prepare for Your Cognitive Assessment

You don’t need to prepare for a cognitive test; studying isn’t necessary.

Cognitive function tests consist of simple questions and exercises. The assessment is designed to learn more about you and offers a meaningful workout to your brain. So, relax and go in as yourself. 

What to Expect During the Cognitive Test

The test will entail a series of questions and exercises. Cognitive function tests typically cover the following: 

• Recall and memory: Being asked to recall objects, places, or people you were shown and/or being asked to describe an event
• Analytical  thinking: Solving puzzles via rules and noting relationships between objects or figures
• Attention: Using visual and auditory speed to concentrate and finish tasks

How Long Do the Tests Typically Take? 

It depends on the type of test you take, but cognitive function tests typically take between 25 minutes to 1.5 hours to complete. 

What are the Benefits of Neuropsychological Assessments?

Cognitive assessments can assist health care providers in:

• Identifying strengths and areas needing improvement
• Establishing a cognitive baseline for intervention
• Guiding personalized treatment plans
• Supporting recovery from TBI, stroke, PTSD, mild cognitive impairment, or age-related decline

Can Cognitive Impairment be Reversed? 

With the right protocols and medical team by your side, you can reverse some forms of cognitive impairment. Research illustrates that a variety of therapies, including a specialized protocol of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), may help: 

• Drive the body’s regenerative mechanisms.
• “Improve and restore cognitive brain functions.” 

One study specifically discovered the main improvements involve “attention, information processing speed, and executive functions, which normally decline with aging.”

How Evidence-Based Interventions Support Brain Health

Every decision we make each day impacts our cognitive well-being, and staying proactive is one of those decisions.

If you want to be proactive with your brain health,  the Aviv Medical Program is an evidence-based treatment program based on nearly two decades of research that enhances cognitive performance and brings relief to our clients. 

With cognitive training alongside other interventions like hyperbaric oxygen therapy, the Aviv Medical Program targets the main cognitive domains known to decline during aging, including:

• Memory
• Attention
• Speed of information processing
• Multitasking
• Executive skills 

Take Control of Your Cognitive Health with Aviv Clinics

Cognitive function tests provide more than just a snapshot; they’re part of a comprehensive assessment of your brain health. At Aviv Clinics, we use these tests alongside imaging, physical assessments, and personalized health reviews to understand your unique cognitive profile.

Whether you’re concerned about age-related cognitive decline, recovering from a stroke, or managing the long-term effects of a concussion or TBI, knowing your cognitive baseline is the first step toward meaningful improvement.

The Aviv Medical Program can combine a personalized combination of targeted interventions, including cognitive training and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), to enhance brain function, strengthen memory, attention, processing speed, and executive skills.

Start your proactive journey today. Schedule a consultation to assess your cognition, understand your brain health, and explore a personalized plan to optimize your cognitive performance.

 

Last Update: October 2, 2025