NEUROCOGNITIVE ASSESSMENT
Brain fitness assessments can provide vital information to support an overall health and fitness profile and are now considered to be a key part of a comprehensive health and wellness programs. Like any medical or psychological test, none stand by themselves, quality assessments require data collection that is reliable and accurate and most importantly requires interpretation by a knowledgeable and experienced clinical team.
“Neurocognition” refers to the higher brain functions: learning, remembering, concentrating, solving problems, and making decisions. Neurocognitive processes are active in virtually all of our day-to-day activities. Neurocognitive testing helps clinicians evaluate and describe the health of the cognitive or higher functions of the brain (from CNS-VS).
The NeruoCognitive Assessment allows our team to best ascertain brain fitness levels and customize a brain optimization program that directly and comprehensively addresses the client’s goals and objectives.
Two key assessments are available:
1. QEEG, Quantitative electroencephalography (sometimes called a brainmap)
A non-invasive neuroimaging process used to measure and quantify the electrical activity of the brain. Most people are familiar with the EKG (an electrocardiogram) is a test that checks for problems with the electrical activity of your heart. EEG represents the electrical activity of the brain.
QEEG’s assist in identifying areas of the brain in which an individual may have significant excessive or deficient brainwave activity. The procedure is painless, takes less than one hour and provides a reliable means to identify less than optimal brain activity through a statistical comparison with a database of age-matched EEG patterns.
Research has shown that distinct brain electrical patterns can be associated with specific neurologic and psychiatric conditions including traumatic brain injury, attention disorders and other learning disabilities, anxiety, and depression. The comprehensive analysis help guide possible Neurofeedback training or other therapeutic training planning.
2. CNS-VS, Central Nervous System-Vital Signs
Assessment of a clients neurocognitive status is a “vital sign” that is an integral part of modern and personalized medicine. With the changing prevalence of neurological conditions such as dementias and ADHD, as well as the widespread use of computers, this assessment offers an objective, efficient computerized testing tool, allowing for increased efficiency and precision over paper-based tests.
A precise computerized assessment of neurocognitive status, used to detect areas of strength and impairment in brain function, along with behavioral and functional rating scales. The detailed report allows both clinician and client to detect subtle cognitive deficits while creating a baseline of cognitive function and track subtle cognitive changes.
“Diseases of the brain commonly produce changes in behavior, including impairment of cognitive abilities and production of neuropsychiatric symptoms. Knowledge of the presence and characteristics of these changes can aid in the evaluation, management and longitudinal care of patients with neurologic and psychiatric diseases.” Adapted from: Neurology 1996;47:592-599.