What is cognitive testing?Cognitive testing checks for problems with cognition. Cognition is a combination of processes in your brain that's involved in almost every aspect of your life. It includes thinking, memory, language, judgment, and the ability to learn new things. A problem with cognition is called cognitive impairment. The condition ranges from mild to severe.There are many causes of cognitive impairment. They include side effects of medicines, blood vessel disorders, depression, and dementia. Dementia is a term used for a severe loss of mental functioning. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia.Cognitive testing can't show the specific cause of impairment. But testing can help your provider find out if you need more tests and/or take steps to address the problem.There are different types of cognitive tests. The most common tests are:Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE)Mini-CogAll three tests measure mental functions through a series of questions and/or simple tasks.Other names: cognitive assessment, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA test, Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), and Mini-Cog
