Neuropsychological Testing for Cognitive Impairment

Clinical Rationale for Approval

The American Academy of Neurology recommends neuropsychological testing for patients with memory concerns and recent motor vehicle collision to quantify cognitive deficits and guide treatment planning 1
Patients with pre-existing memory concerns, recent MVC, and age-related risk factors (64 years old) are at increased vulnerability to cognitive impairment, according to the Alzheimer's Association 2
Normal CT findings do not rule out subtle cognitive changes, as stated by the British Journal of Sports Medicine 3

Comprehensive neuropsychological testing provides quantitative baseline data on current cognitive function, detection of subtle cognitive deficits, and information to differentiate between potential causes of cognitive changes, including age-related cognitive changes 5 and possible mild traumatic brain injury from MVC 3
The American Heart Association recommends considering depression as a potential cause of cognitive symptoms in patients with a history of depression 6

Patients with memory difficulties, recent MVC, and history of depression require comprehensive assessment to differentiate between potential contributing factors, as recommended by the American Psychiatric Association 6
Neuropsychological testing is valuable in detecting subtle cognitive changes, particularly in patients with functional impact on daily activities, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke 1

The neuropsychological assessment should include evaluation of attention and processing speed, executive functions, learning and memory, visuospatial abilities, and mood and emotional functioning, as recommended by the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology 7
Testing should be performed by a qualified neuropsychologist who can interpret results in the context of the patient's complex presentation, according to the American Board of Professional Neuropsychology 4