A new brief cognitive assessment to improve dementia detection in older adults

5-Cog Paradigm to Improve Detection of Cognitive Impairment in Primary Care: Pragmatic Clinical Trial

Not applicable Interventional Albert Einstein College of Medicine · NCT05515224

This study is testing a quick new cognitive test to see if it can help doctors better identify dementia and mild cognitive impairment in older adults during routine check-ups.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment6600 (estimated)
Ages65 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorAlbert Einstein College of Medicine Academic / other
Locations2 sites (Bloomington, Indiana and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT05515224 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness of the 5-Cog brief cognitive assessment, designed to enhance the detection of cognitive impairment in older adults presenting with cognitive concerns in primary care settings. The 5-Cog assessment is standardized, takes less than five minutes to administer, and does not require informants, addressing various barriers to current assessments. The study employs a pragmatic cluster-randomized trial design across 22 primary care clinics, aiming to increase the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia among a diverse population of older adults. The trial builds on promising interim results that showed significant increases in new cognitive impairment diagnoses and improved dementia care actions by physicians.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are older adults aged 65 and above who have cognitive concerns and can communicate in English or Spanish.

Not a fit: Patients with a prior diagnosis of dementia or those residing in permanent nursing facilities may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to earlier and more accurate diagnoses of cognitive impairment, improving patient care and outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown success with similar cognitive assessment approaches, indicating potential for this method to be effective.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. 65 years and older
2. Presence of cognitive concerns
3. English or Spanish speaking.
4. Able to see and hear well enough to complete assessments.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Prior diagnosis of dementia (documented in the electronic medical record or reported by physicians).
2. Permanent nursing facility residents.

Where this trial is running

Bloomington, Indiana and 1 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions DementiaCognitive Impairment
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.