☝️ TLDR: An analog clock drawing can show if a person’s brain is doing okay

You can tell the time, we presume. But are you aware that the time can also say a lot about you? Just one drawing can reveal the onset of a cognitive disorder in a person.

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dementia clock test

What’s ticking, “Hannibal” fans? Yeah, that’s right, you already know what’s up. For the rest of the class, the clock drawing test is a simple and effective way to check for cognitive issues, like dementia. Invented by neurologist Maurice R. Naeser in 1983, the draw a clock test has become a staple in medical assessments, helping doctors identify early signs of disorders.

clock drawing test

In the dementia clock test, patients are asked to draw a clock, place the numbers correctly, and set the hands to a specific time. It’s a straightforward way to check important brain functions like planning, memory, and spatial awareness.

drawing a clock test

You might wonder when someone should take this test. If you notice a person struggling with memory, having difficulty organizing their thoughts, or losing track of time frequently, it could be a sign they need the drawing a clock test. These small cognitive lapses can be early indicators of more serious conditions, so keeping an eye out for these signs is essential.

📌 Fun Fact: CDT is a TV star!

The clock drawing test has made its way into more popular media than NBC’s “Hannibal”. One famous portrayal can be seen in the TV series “The Sopranos,” where Tony Soprano’s mother takes the test during a hospital evaluation.

draw a clock test

Other tests can show when someone’s brain is in danger. Some of them are:

📝 Test Name🎯 Purpose
Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)Assesses cognitive function, including memory, attention, and language.
Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)Screens for mild cognitive impairment, focusing on executive function and memory.
Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI)Evaluates behavioral disturbances in dementia patients, such as delusions or anxiety.
Trail Making Test (TMT)Assesses visual attention, task switching, and processing speed.
Boston Naming Test (BNT)Measures word retrieval abilities to detect aphasia and other language disorders.
Digit Span TestEvaluates working memory and attention by asking patients to repeat number sequences.
Verbal Fluency TestTests executive function by asking patients to generate words based on set criteria.

Source

Journal of Clinical Neuroscience

FAQ

What does the clock drawing test indicate?

The CDT is primarily used to screen for cognitive impairments such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. It helps evaluate a person’s executive function — planning and organization — and visuospatial abilities, or how they process and interpret visual information. It also tests attention and memory.

What does it mean if someone can’t draw a clock?

If someone struggles to draw a clock, it can indicate several cognitive issues. It can reveal issues related to memory, attention, or problem-solving. Difficulty with abstract thinking and spatial reasoning may be related to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. A stroke or brain injury can cause problems with motor control, planning, or spatial orientation.

What is a 10-point score on the clock drawing test?

A 10-point scoring system is one way to assess the CDT. A perfect score of 10 indicates that the clock is drawn correctly, with numbers placed accurately and the hands showing the requested time. Lower scores (0 to 9) suggest varying degrees of cognitive impairment, with specific errors such as misplaced numbers or incorrect hand positions. Significant deviations, therefore, indicate significant issues.

Why won’t Alzheimer’s patients draw a clock?

Patients with Alzheimer’s disease often can’t draw a clock because the disease affects areas of the brain responsible for memory recall, visuospatial skills, and executive function. In other words, they may forget the concept of a clock or how to arrange the numbers, struggle with organizing and arranging information in space, or have difficulty planning and executing a task.

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