You may have heard of the clock test before. It is commonly included in the battery of tests when making a dementia diagnosis. More than one test is used because doctors are first trying to rule out other causes for the cognitive impairments (such as tumors, stroke or other changes to the brain), to determine if the dementia symptoms could be reversible (such as with an infection or vitamin deficiencies), and to differentiate the type of dementia (if it is vascular, frontotemporal, etc.). Actually, the dementia test work-up is really a bunch of tests to rule out causes for the cognitive changes, and only when no other cause can be found, a diagnosis of dementia or probable dementia is given (or at least that is the ideal way the tests are used and a diagnosis of dementia is arrived at).
To do the clock test, the instructions are for the person to draw a clock and put the hands at a specific time that the doctor says (usually it is 11:10). The clock test is used to assess the cognitive processes of:
- Executive functioning,
- Organization: Gathering information and structuring it for evaluation
- Regulation: Taking stock of your surroundings and changing behavior in response to it
- Global cognitive status,
- The mechanisms of how we learn, remember, problem-solve, and pay attention rather than actual knowledge.
- Visuospatial abilities,
- The ability to understand visual representations and their spatial relationships.
- Attention,
- The act or faculty of attending, especially by directing the mind to an object; concentrating.
- and Semantic knowledge
- General facts, meaning, ideas, and concepts that are not drawn from personal experience.
Areas of the brain associated with cognitive functioning
Below are some examples of clock tests that people with dementia have completed.
How is the clock test scored and what do the scores mean?
There are many different ways to score the clock test, over a dozen at least. One study found that the easiest method for scoring was equally as accurate as the more difficult methods – good news! The easiest method is also the one recommended by the Alzheimer’s Association. 1 point is given for drawing the clock and getting the time correct (indicating the absence of dementia) and 0 points are given if these two criteria are not met (indicating further evaluation is needed).
Below, a more detailed description of the scoring is given.
There is also a 10-point scoring for the Clock Test:
Researchers at Georgia Tech are currently working on testing a home-based version of the Clock Test, called ClockMe. The person uses a stylus with their tablet or touchscreen computer to draw a clock at home. They are given directions and a set amount of time to complete the clock at 11:10. Then, they email the clock to a professional, who uses a special software called ClockAnalyzer to score the test. The individual person can also use another program, called ClockReader, to look at their test at home.
The ClockAnalyzer Application examines 13 characteristics of the drawn clock. These include, among other things, where the numbers are placed, how they are written, if there are extra or missing numbers, and if the time is set to 11:10, how long it took the person to finish their clock, the time between each stroke, and can even replay the entire drawing experience, which lets clinicians look further for abnormal behaviors. Really sounds like a useful application for diagnostics, if you ask me! I couldn’t find a more detailed description of the ClockReader program, but would imagine it would include some similar features and focus more on looking at the changes in the Clock Drawing Test over time rather than specific diagnostic indicators.
What does research say about the clock test?
Compared to the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE, another commonly used cognitive assessment tool), the clock drawing test is thought to have less educational bias and is better able to detect cognitive decline due to Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. The MMSE is known to have some issues with the educational level of the individuals taking the test (those with high education levels can pass the test even though they have measurable impairment, and those with low education levels can do poorly on the test even though they have no impairment), as well as not being as sensitive to milder cognitive changes and is primarily sensitive to detecting Alzheimer’s than other dementias. The clock drawing test has also been advocated over the MMSE as an office screening test for dementia in community clinics and in acute hospital settings. It requires less time to administer and to score. Furthermore, the clock drawing test is suitable for non-English speaking populations, whereas the MMSE does have some language bias.
A 2010 study from researchers at the Alzheimer’s Disease Center at Boston University School of Medicine looked at interrater reliability (the degree of agreement among raters/clinicians) and diagnostic accuracy (how accurate the tool is in correctly diagnosing or ruling out a diagnosis) of the Clock Drawing Test. They found it had excellent interrater reliability, sensitivity (how good a test is at positively detecting a condition), and specificity (how likely the individuals without the disease will correctly be ruled out) for predicting a consensus diagnosis and excellent interrater reliability and sensitivity for differentiating participants with mild Alzheimer’s Disease from the control (normal cognition) participants. The researchers found that while the clock drawing test may be a good screening instrument for Alzheimer’s disease – although it is not recommended to use as a stand-alone screening, it may not be a sensitive instrument for screening mild cognitive impairment.
A literature review study, from 2015, looked at if the Clock Drawing Test could differentiate between types of dementia. They looked at data from 20 different studies and found that there were no significant differences in Clock scores between individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease, Vascular Dementia, Dementia with Lewy Bodies, and Parkinson’s Disease Dementia. They did find that individuals with Frontotemporal Dementia consistently scored higher than individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease. The authors conclude that the types of errors made on the Clock Drawing Test suggests that there is a difference between Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia and could be useful to distinguish between Alzheimer’s and Frontotemporal dementia.
In conclusion, the Clock Drawing Test is widely used, easy to administer and score, and has a high sensitivity to correctly detecting Alzheimer’s Disease. This test doesn’t take long, which makes it a good screening tool for a doctor to use to determine if further cognitive testing is needed, and even better to use as a screening tool in hospitals if there are suspicions of cognitive impairment. I really look forward to reading about the ClockMe and complimentary applications being tested at Georgia Tech and think this could be a promising step forward in dementia testing and diagnosis.
Have you or someone you know taken the Clock Drawing Test? I would be interested to hear your experiences and opinions in the comments below!
Sources:
Kørner EA et al. Simple scoring of the Clock-Drawing test for dementia screening. Danish Medical Journal 2012 Jan; 59(1): A4365. http://www.danmedj.dk/portal/pls/portal/!portal.wwpob_page.show?_docname=8548905.pdf. Accessed 4 May, 2015.
Endear “Alzheimer’s disease screening test at home,” http://blogforalzheimers.com/2012/10/08/alzheimers-disease-screening-test-at-home/. 8 October, 2012. Accessed 4 May, 2015.
Dr. Pascale Michelon, “What are Cognitive Abilities and Skills, and How to Boost Them?” http://sharpbrains.com/blog/2006/12/18/what-are-cognitive-abilities/. 18 December, 2006. Accessed 5 May, 2015.
Nair, AK, et al., “Clock Drawing Test Ratings by Dementia Specialists: Interrater Reliability and Diagnostic Accuracy” The Journal of Neuropsychiatry & Clinical Neurosciences. Vol. 22: 1, pp 85-92. Winter 2010. http://neuro.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/jnp.2010.22.1.85
Tan, L, et al. “Can Clock Drawing Differentiate Alzheimer’s Disease From Other Dementias?” European Psychiatry. Vol 30: 1, pp 1434. March 2015. http://www.europsy-journal.com/article/S0924-9338(15)31108-1/abstract?cc=y=
Doctor Dementia and the Dementia Adventure 
My husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer. Went to new dr (after our GP retired) and he gave him the clock test. My husband reversed the numbers 12,11,10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2 and started to put the 1 where the 11 should be. He stopped said, “wait…crossed off the 2 and said the 1 goes in the middle somewhere” he got the time 12:30) right because he smiled and said that was easy. It is just a straight line.
He then asked me how he did. i said “fine. Don’t worry about it, there are no wrong answers. You did good.”
Hard to not cry
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My dad, received Clock test along with repeat back three words. The three words repeated without issue. The clock numbers were correct but he verbalized to me afterward that he could not immediately denote the minute hand, the hour hand was correct. The dr asked him what happened, he said” I don’t know”. He was tearful with me revisiting the situation the next day. The dr offered no feedback except to say” you got three points for the words”. Should there have been a “next step” explained?
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My 77 year old Mother has been showing some behavioral changes recently. For example, forgetting how to turn on the air conditioner, putting things in strange places, exhibiting fits of anger and aggressiveness. I gave her the clock test and she drew the clock numbers as a mirror reflection. The 12 at the top and starting at the left with 1,2,3 etc. I’m wondering what this could mean? None of the examples listed mentioned this interpretation. What are your thoughts?
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Hi Jessica, thanks for reading and for your comment. Without knowing more about your mother or visiting with her, I can’t give any definitive advice at this point other than to get her in to an appointment with a neurologist, neuropsychologist or dementia specialist. I haven’t come across a mirror reflection in the clock test before and a quick search didn’t reveal that this is a common outcome. If you get any definitive answer from the doctor, please feel free to share with us what you learn. Thanks again, Jessica, and I wish you and your mother the best of luck.
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Hi
My Dad is 87. I gave him the clock test because over the last few months he’s really been getting confused with writing checks. On 2 of the clock tests he drew the numbers from 12 , 11 etc and had the hand position Wrong and had 3 hands on clock.. the other 2 clocks he had numbers right but Wrong times.. I further tested him for reading numbers I wrote out, all great.. He could also distinguish drawings and drew them fine.. Any help would be appreciated . Thank you
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Hi Marla,
Thanks for checking out the article and for posting your comment. Like you, I am also concerned that your father is inconsistent in making the clock test. I would recommend getting him in to see a doctor, preferably a neurologist who is trained and qualified to assess cognitive functioning. Be sure to bring in the previous clock tests you he made (with dates) as well.
The beginning symptoms of dementia are most often related to executive functioning (like managing finances, personal hygiene, household maintenance, etc.) and not specific to memory, so I would trust your intuition that something has changed with your father. There are also other conditions which can cause cognitive changes but are not dementia and can even be treated and reversed, like urinary tract infections, vitamin deficiencies, or other infections, which is why it is good to have a medical doctor rule out or treat those possible causes.
I hope this helps, and please feel free to write again, Marla. Best of luck to you and your father.
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I’m a physiotherapist and I designed a physical + cognitive stimulation exercise for the brain and body based on the Clock Drawing Test. It’s facilitated with a smartphone/tablet app. I’d love to hear your thoughts! For references and links see http://www.clockyourself.com.au
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Thanks for sharing the info!
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Pingback: More improvements for the Clock Drawing Test | Doctor Dementia and the Dementia Adventure
I have taken this test and was questioned because I went to my neurologist with complaints about cognitive lapses and foggy, severe headaches. I know my clock wasn’t normal because it had no hands and I got upset because I noticed I skipped numbers before I handed it back. The doctor then accused me of lying because I was too young (26) to have dementia. I did not go to the doctor for possible dementia so I am left disabled with no coping mechanisms which is distressing as I can’t work nor finish college.
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I am sorry this happened, Ashley. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I think it’s odd when doctors think that younger people cannot have cognitive problems, and unprofessional that they would accuse someone of lying AND not give further information. I wish that they would have referred you to another neurologist or at least some follow-up testing, it is so frustrating to be left with no answers when you know something is not as it used to be.
The clock drawing test is only one assessment used to determine cognitive functioning, I would recommend that you see another doctor (who would hopefully refer you for more testing, including CT scan or MRI) and keep advocating for your own health.
You are not too young to have cognitive problems. You should not be left with no plan for treatment. Doctors, like the rest of us, are humans and don’t know everything and also make mistakes. It might be a good idea to take someone with you to the next appointment who can also give the doctor some insight into what you have been going through and the changes (this is also support for you and another set of ears to take in what the doctor says).
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