Amnesia Light and Brief Assessment (ALBA)
The Amnesia Light and Brief Assessment (ALBA) is a very brief memory test, originally Czech and innovative in its design. The name "Light" suggests the test is easy, "Brief" indicates its short duration (two to three minutes), and "Amnesia Assessment" reflects its focus on evaluating memory. The acronym ALBA is derived from the initial letters of Amnesia Light and Brief Assessment. The two engaging tasks involve repeating a six-word sentence, demonstrating and immediately recalling six gestures, and finally, recalling the words from the original sentence. The ALBA test can be a valuable tool in clinical and research settings for detecting cognitive deficits in the early stages, particularly in memory and speech disorders. Due to its creative design, it is an enjoyable test for the individuals being assessed. It can be utilized by various specialists involved in comprehensive patient care for brain damage, including neurologists, psychiatrists, geriatricians, general practitioners, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, psychologists, clinical speech therapists, occupational therapists, and others. The main advantage of the ALBA test is its brevity, requiring no tools and can even be performed without a record sheet.
Educational video
Administration and evaluation of the ALBA test by its author
The original Czech and innovative memory test Amnesia Light and Brief Assessment (ALBA) is a unique easy-to-perform (hence the name Light) and three-minute (Brief) test (Assessment) that can indicate short-term memory impairment (Amnesia). The author of the test shows the correct administration and the immediate evaluation of the ALBA test in a short video.
The advantage of the ALBA test is its very short duration of 2-3 minutes ("a quality memory examination cannot be shorter") and its performance without aids and even by heart. Since the test is challenging, it can detect early cognitive deficits.
Literature to the ALBA test
- Bartoš A, Diondet S. Sensitive Amnesia Light and Brief Assessment (ALBA) is a valid three-minute test of four tasks indicative of mild cognitive deficits. Neurología, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nrl.2023.02.007
- Bartos A. ALBA and PICNIR tests used for simultaneous examination of two patients with dementia and their adult children. Cesk Slov Neurol N 2021; 84/ 117(6): 583–586
in Czech - it can be translated using e.g. Google Translator or Deeple.com: - Bartoš A, Diondet S. Test Amnesia Light and Brief Assessment (ALBA) – druhá verze a opakovaná vyšetření. Cesk Slov Neurol N 2020; 83/116(5): 535-543. doi: 10.14735/amcsnn2020535
- Bartoš. A. Dvě původní české zkoušky k vyšetření paměti za tři minuty: Amensia Light and Brief Assessment (ALBA). Cesk Slov Neurol N 2019; 82(4): 420-429
- Bartoš A. Test gest (TEGEST) k rychlému vyšetření epizodické paměti u mírné kognitivní poruchy. Cesk Slov Neurol N 2018; 81(1): 37-44.