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The 30-second drawing test that could predict your dementia risk – how do you score?
A QUICK drawing test could predict whether you’re at risk of developing dementia.
It’s normal to become forgetful as you get older, but the 30-second at home test could show if you need to be worried about your memory.
Trying to draw a clock from memory can be a quick way of assessing someone’s risk of the brain robbing disease.
Though it sounds deceptively simple, the test actually assesses a number of different cognitive abilities at once – such as memory, visual-spatial ability, comprehension, motor skills and concentration.
The skills needed to complete the test are the very skills that might begin to degrade is a person has dementia.
According to Dr Jesus Ramirez-Bermudez, a Mexican neurologist who researches cognitive decline, the clock drawing test is an accessible and effective way of detecting dementia risk.
Posting an image of different clock drawings to X, he said “it remains one of the easiest and cheapest ways to identify patients” with neurological conditions such as dementia.
Drawing a lopsided circle or incorrectly placing numbers on the clock could indicate early signs of the condition.
But if someone manages to draw a clock correctly it “virtually excludes” dementia because the task requires a wide range of cognitive skills, according to the NHS – which has used the screening method for decades.
It’s estimated that almost a million Brits have the brain-robbing condition.
The number is projected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040.
Alzheimer’s disease is by far the most common form, accounting for about 60 to 70 per cent of cases.
It’s important to note that the test is often used in combination with other screening methods, so scoring badly doesn’t confirm you’ll get dementia.
But it can serve as prompt to speak to your GP about your memory.
The UK Dementia Directory recommends you encourage loved ones you suspect are suffering from memory loss to do the 30-second dementia test.
The test “could help them realise they could have a problem” and encourage them to visit a GP about their symptoms, it said.
Symptoms of dementia
Dementia symptoms may include problems with:
- Memory loss
- Thinking speed
- Mental sharpness and quickness
- Language, such as using words incorrectly, or trouble speaking
- Understanding
- Judgement
- Mood
- Movement
- Difficulties doing daily activities
People with dementia can lose interest in their usual activities, and may have problems managing their behaviour or emotions.
They may also find social situations difficult and lose interest in relationships and socialising.
Aspects of their personality may change, and they may lose empathy.
Because people with dementia may lose the ability to remember events, or not fully understand their environment or situations, it can seem as if they’re not telling the truth or are wilfully ignoring problems.
As dementia affects a person’s mental abilities, they may find planning and organising difficult. Maintaining their independence may also become a problem.
A person with dementia will usually need help from friends or relatives, including help with making decisions.
Source: NHS
The directory cited the clock-drawing task as “probably the best and most widely used do at home dementia test”.
It added: “The clock drawing test is also widely used by GP’s and dementia specialists.
“They can be used to give a quick and simple early diagnosis that there could be a problem that warrants further investigation into the individuals memory.”
How to do the test
All you’ll need is a blank piece of paper and a drawing implement.
Ask your loved one to:
- Draw a clock
- Put all the numbers on the clock face
- Draw the hands onto the clock, giving them a set time to put in
Now it’s time to score the drawing.
Use the following markers to judge it:
- How well the person drew the clock circle
- Have they included all the numbers 1-12?
- Are all the numbers drawn in the correct order on the clock face and in the correct place?
- Did they draw two hands on the clock?
- Do the hands on the clock say the correct time you asked them to draw?
Award one point for each correct answer.
“A normal score for the test is four or five points,” according to the Dementia Directory.
“Anything less than four points should be a concern.”
Ask your loved one to visit a GP if you have any concerns about their results.
Although there isn’t currently a cure for dementia, getting diagnosed early can mean that the disease is slowed down with treatment.
The Dementia Directory also recommends giving a simple word association test a go.
Ask the person you’re concerned about to name all the animals they can think of in one minute.
You can also ask them to name all the types of fruit they can remember in one minute.
“Research has found that a healthy individuals scoring should between 20 to 25 words in the time given, whereas a person who may have memory problems usually scores between 10 to 15,” the directory noted.
My favourite haircare brand has just launched perfume – they’re one of the best and most affordable on the market
MY friends are a bit fed up of hearing about Arkive.
As a beauty writer, I test hundreds of haircare products every month, but there are very few brands I love like Arkive – and I’m not exactly quiet about it.
Since my very first spritz of the brand’s cult hairspray, I’ve been hooked, and have recommended the brand to everyone I know ever since.
Dehydrated hair? Try Arkive. Flyaways and frizz? Arkive. Tight budget? Arkive, always.
Very few brands boast a product lineup that nourishes, smoothes, and smells incredible, all while costing under £20, but Arkive somehow manages the lot.
Founded by celebrity hairstylist Adam Reed in 2020, Arkive calls itselfa ‘headcare’ brand, focusing on clearing the mind and taking a moment of pause, as well as caring for your hair and scalp.
While all of the above is brilliant, my favourite thing about Arkive products is their scent, as I’d gladly wear the Arkive hairspray as a perfume.
And now I can!
This autumn, Arkive announced it was launching four perfumes, starring the fragrances we know and love from its haircare products.
Packaged in tinted embossed bottles, and suitable for spritzing on to hair and skin, these budget beauties are one of my favourite launches of 2024.
The best bit?
They cost just £30.
Here’s everything else you need to know…
Arkive Decorated Woods Fragrance
Arkive Decorated Fragrance EDP, £30
Freshly cut grass, dense foliage, and leaves crunching underfoot – this perfume feels like a chilly walk in lush woodlands.
Incorporating smooth, sweet notes of amber with decadent, spiced ginger, it feels like a gulp of morning air.
You’ll also find this fragrance in Arkive’s Decorated Woods The Reset Dry Shampoo – a limited edition of the brand’s bestselling product.
Arkive Decorated Woods The Reset Dry Shampoo, £8
How To Save Money On Beauty Buys
IF your purse is feeling tighter than ever before and you're looking to save cash on your make-up routine, have you ever thought of trying out beauty dupes?
Here’s five of the best recommended beauty buys that are almost identical to the posh versions, but for a fraction of the price.
FACE BASE: If you can’t afford Charlotte Tilbury‘s £52 Magic Cream, why not try a dupe that costs just £5.49 from Superdrug?
TONE IT UP: If Drunk Elephant’s £62 Protini moisturiser is out of your price range, you’ll need to check out the new dupe in Home Bargains.
TINTING IT: With Fenty’s ‘game-changer’ skin tint costing an eye-watering £29, a popular supermarket’s affordable alternative might just be the thing for you.
GET COVERED: At £29 for a Tarte concealer, the new Primark dupe is much more affordable at just £3.50.
SPRAY YAY: For those wanting to smell fresh, without the price tag, Aldi’s new Prada and Chloe perfume dupes cost a fraction of the price.
Arkive No One Elsie Fragrance
Arkive No One Elsie Fragrance, £30
This scent caused me to fall in love with Arkive – and it’s now available as a standalone perfume.
When I first tried the Arkive The Mastery Liquid Hairspray, which is scented with No One Elsie fragrance, I was so distracted by its smell that I didn’t realise how good my hair looked until a colleague complimented me – and asked what perfume I was wearing.
Lively and fresh, No One Elsie balances tangy rhubarb with leafy tomato notes, and was inspired by founder Adam Reed’s grandmother’s greenhouse.
Arkive The Mastery Liquid Hairspray, £8.67
Arkive Future Bloom Fragrance
Arkive Future Bloom Fragrance, £30
Much like burying your nose in a bouquet or wandering past a florist, Future Bloom is sweet and enveloping – striking the perfect balance between fresh and floral.
Balancing zingy mandarin, delicate jasmine and reassuring white musk, this fragrance takes on a new dimension every time you give it a sniff.
Already adored as the scent behind Arkive The Good Habit Hair Oil, I’m excited to douse myself in this perfume now that it’s available in bottle form.
Arkive The Good Habit Hair Oil, £14
Arkive A Kind of Floral Fragrance
Arkive A Kind of Floral Fragrance, £30
Unlike the other Arkive fragrances, A Kind of Floral scent doesn’t feature in any Arkive hair products – but I hope that it will soon!
The cosy combination of musk and sandalwood pairs with fiery pink pepper and zesty lemon, for a rounded, mellow scent.
As its name suggests, it’s not quite a floral – as it feels much warmer and balanced – yet has all of the merits of a flowery scent: elegant, delicate and instantly elevating.
Towie Christmas special in chaos as furious star storms out of filming after explosive row kicks off
FILMING for the upcoming Towie Christmas special was thrown into chaos over the weekend when one of the stars stormed out, The Sun can exlcusively reveal.
The Only Way is Essex fans are getting a special festive episode for the first time since 2021.
And it seems it’s going to be full of drama after Junaid Ahmed had a falling out with some of his cast members while shooting.
The Towie gang were filming in Peterborough and the row got so heated he refused to appear in scenes.
An insider told The Sun: “Junaid was arguing with a few people and ended up storming out of filming.
“They were shooting on location in Peterborough and Junaid left the location and didn’t return for two days.”
It comes after fans noticed Junaid and former best pal Dani Imbert were no longer following each other on Instagram.
During the most recent series of Towie Dani found herself in a tough position when Junaid starting dating Harry Derbidge’s ex Joe Blackman.
The cast was divided given Junaid’s former close friendship with Harry.
Meanwhile a very familiar face showed up to film a cameo in the Christmas special.
James Argent filmed some special scenes six years after leaving the show.
A source told The Sun: “Arg is really excited to be back filming this cameo with cast and crew.
“It’s been a long time since he was last on Towie and he’s in such a great place personally.
“He felt like this was the perfect moment for him to pop back to see his Towie pals, old and new.”
Watch furious Katie Price tell fan ‘go f*** yourself’ as she hits back at TikTok troll and brands them an ‘ugly sl*g’
KATIE Price furiously branded a fan an “ugly sl*g” and blasted: “Go f*** yourself”.
In a sweary rant, the 46-year-old lashed out after receiving negative comments during a TikTok live.
Mum of four Katie was on social media promoting her clothing collection this morning from her home.
With boyfriend JJ Slater in the background, Katie changed into numerous outfits to sell off online.
Reading through some of the comments to interact with fans, Katie shouted: “Oh Linda’s called me a smelly sl*g.”
She then asked: “Wow, shall we all go for Linda?
“Well Linda’s never met me but I am smelly. Not in a bad way, I smell amazing.
“And sl*g? Cor, that’s a bit harsh. What’s your definition of a sl*g? Because that’s definitely something I’m not.
“Linda is vile. Who the hell is Linda? Linda you’re an ugly sl**. How about that?
“Go f*** yourself, Linda.”
A member of Katie’s team was heard nervously giggling in the background before shouting: “Katie! Is it time for a break?”
Katie Price's love life
We take a look back at the highs and lows of Katie Price's relationship history.
1996-1998: Katie got engaged to Gladiators star Warren Furman – aka Ace – with a £3,000 ring. But their relationship didn’t make it as far as ‘I do’.
1998-2000: Katie described Dane Bowers as ‘the love of her life’ but she broke up with the singer when he allegedly cheated on her.
2001: Footballer Dwight Yorke is the father of Katie’s eldest child Harvey. He has had very little to do with Harvey throughout his life.
2002: Rebounding from Dwight, Katie famously had one night of passion with Pop Idol star Gareth Gates, allegedly taking his virginity.
2002-2004: Katie was dating Scott Sullivan when she entered the jungle for I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!. He threatened to “punch Peter’s lights out” when chemistry blossomed between her and Peter Andre.
2004-2009: The jungle romance resulted in Katie marrying Aussie pop star Peter. They had two kids, Junior and Princess, before their bitter split in 2009.
2010-2011: Fresh from her break-up with Peter, Katie enjoyed a whirlwind relationship and marriage with cage fighter Alex Reid. They split 20 months after their Las Vegas wedding.
2011: Katie briefly dated model Danny Cipriani… but it ended as quickly as it begun.
2011-2012: They didn’t speak the same language, but Katie got engaged to Argentinian model Leandro Penna in 2011. He later fled home to South America.
2012-2018: Wedding bells rang once more after Katie met Kieran Hayler in 2013. They had two kids together, Jett and Bunny, before their break-up and divorce.
2018-2019: Katie moved on quickly with Kris Boyson. They had an on-off romance for one year and even got engaged. They split for good in 2019.
2019: Katie was linked to Charles Drury during her on-off relationship with Kris. Charles, who also dated Lauren Goodger, has always denied being in “official relationship” with her.
2020-2023: Car salesman Carl Woods took a shining to Katie in 2020. Their relationship was up and down for three years. They broke up for a final time last year.
2024-present: After weeks of rumours, Katie confirmed her relationship with Married At First Sight star JJ Slater in February this year.
Jose Mourinho ‘calls Cristiano Ronaldo to convince star to join Fenerbahce in sensational transfer development’
JOSE MOURINHO is reportedly attempting to persuade Cristiano Ronaldo to join Fenerbahce at the end of the season.
Ronaldo‘s current deal with Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr expires in June.
As things stand he is yet to agree terms for a new contract.
And he could be given food for thought regarding his next club, with Turkish giants Fenerbahce known to be interested.
According to reports in Turkey, Fenerbahce boss Mourinho has already contacted the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
He allegedly asked: “Are you happy there? There is talk that you want to leave.
“If you leave, would you like to come to Fenerbahce?”
Director of football Mario Branco has allegedly opened talks with Ronaldo and his agent, Jorge Mendes.
It currently seems unlikely the move will happen, but Fenerbahce supporters remain hopeful.
Ronaldo first joined Al-Nassr in January 2023 after terminating his Manchester United contract.
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The 39-year-old has since scored 68 goals and provided 18 assists in 79 appearances.
Earlier this month, he was tipped to join Al-Nassr’s Saudi Pro League rivals Al-Hilal.
Jorge Jesus reportedly wants to sign him to replace Neymar, who has been struggling with a series of injury setbacks.
The Brazilian is understood to be at risk of having his £130million contract ripped up.
