Courtesy of  www.today.com and Dr. Majid Fotuhi of John Hopkins University
From Dr. Majid Fotuhi
“The Fotuhi Brain Fitness Calculator is based on my 25 years of research, clinical and teaching experience at Harvard and Johns Hopkins. I have published several articles about factors that shrink or expand the brain. In my book, I have put together an odometer-type scale that indicates the strength of each of risk factors and each protective factor. I call them “brain meters.”
The questionnaire is my attempt to put all this information in a simple format so people can get a general idea of how they can improve their brain health.”
Disclaimers:
- This questionnaire is intended as a general screening tool for brain health issues and should not be used for diagnosing or treating any specific medical conditions.
- A person with a perfect score may still have significant undiagnosed heart disease (without any symptoms) that could result in stroke and dementia in the future.
- A person with a poor score needs to double-check his or her answers with a health care professional. For example, a person with depression may post unreasonably low scores that could be unduly alarming.
- This questionnaire is not intended to be fully comprehensive and should not be used as a medical diagnosis.
To calculate your score, add the selected numbers from each question. Scoring is explained at the end.
Stress
1. High stress, daily
2. Occasional stress, not daily
3. Rare stress, only once in a while (with deadlines, etc.)
Laughter
1. Rarely laugh, usually grumpy
2. Occasional laughter
3. Cheerful and smiling most of the time
Blood pressure
1. Usually 140/90 or higher
2. Usually between 120/80 and 140/90
3. Usually 120/80 or lower
Smoking
1. Smoke daily
2. Occasional smoke (or quit smoking)
3. Never smoke
Alzheimer’s in the family
1. More than 2 members of the family have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease
2. Only one member of the family has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease
3. Nobody in the family has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease
Sleep
1. Usually less than 6 hours a night
2. Usually 6 to 7 hours a night
3. Usually about 7 to 8 hours a night
Snoring 1. Snore all night, feel sleepy during the day
2. Occasional snoring, mild sleepiness during the day
3. Quite and restful sleep
Activity level
1. Couch potato
2. Usually active, but no formal exercise
3. Keep an active lifestyle and exercise regularly
Brain safety
1. No seat belts, no helmets during biking or contact sports
2. Occasional use of seat belts and helmets
3. Conscious about safety, regular use of seat belts and helmets
Fitness level
1. Compared to people my age, I am out of shape
2. Compared to people my age, I am in average shape
3. Compared to people my age, I am in great shape
Social engagement
1. Usually isolated and alone
2. Occasional social activities, 1-2 months
3. Regular social activities every week
Alcohol use
1. Three or more glasses of alcohol per day
2. No alcohol at all
3. 1-2 glasses of alcohol per day
Food quantity
1. Eat large portions, enjoy second servings
2. Eat occasional large portions, no second servings
3. Small and reasonable portions, no second servings
Food quality
1. Junk food (such as French fries, doughnuts or salty foods)
2. Occasional junk food, usually heart-healthy diet
3. Heart-healthy diet, zero junk food
DHAÂ (Docosahexaenoic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid)
1. No DHA or nutritional supplements
2. Occasional DHA supplements
3. Daily use of DHA supplements
Mood
1. Sad, irritable and/or depressed most of the time
2. Occasional irritability, but generally pleasant
3. Upbeat, cheerful, and agreeable most of the time
Mindfulness Meditation
1. Never practice any form of meditation or relaxation
2. Occasional meditation or relaxation
3. Daily mediation and/or relaxation
Attitude
1. Usually pessimist, negative, and hopeless
2. Occasional negative thoughts, usually positive attitude
3. Always optimistic and positive attitude
Memory Stimulation
1. No effort in memorizing names, facts, or stats
3. Always eager to memorize names, facts, or stats
Sense of curiosity
1. No interest in learning new things or exploring the world
2. Occasional interest in learning new things and exploring the world
3. Usually eager and enthusiastic to learn new things and explore the world
Your Score:
Green: 50-60: Good news: You have a brain-healthy lifestyle. There’s always room for improvement, though, so please start working on areas where your score was not perfect.
Yellow: 31 to 49:Â Your lifestyle needs a checkup. You need to identify key weaknesses and devote a strong effort to strengthening them, while maintaining brain-healthy habits in other areas.
Red: 20 to 30:Â Your brain is in need of some TLC. Your goal should be to improve your scores across the board. This may involve some major lifestyle changes. Think about which changes you can realistically make and which will have the biggest impact. You need to discuss areas in which you have a low score with your doctor or a health care professional.
I know I have scored lower than I would have a year ago when I was 74. We have had 3 major fatal tragic auto accidents this past year. My husband killed by a horse running straight into our car, totaling car, destroying (5 surgeries) to my left (close up vision eye) my husband died 9 days after accident due to massive head injuries where horse came through sun roof and beat him in head with hoofs. My ONLY grandchild, and her 3 year old baby (my daughter’s ONLY child) were both killed in an auto accident drowing when car flipped into Bayou Canal in LA. My very best male mentor and friend died of a sudden stroke and my best girlfriend all my life died plus my daughters best girlfriend (in FL) who lived next door to us for 30 years lost one of her 3 daughters due to brain aneurysm just 3 1/2 weeks after going to Louisiana and attending my grandchild’s funeral. How can one not have stress and brain failure. I am surprised my test ended up in the yellow range. I am forgetting more than ever and feel there may be some sort of brain damage due to the accident that “pulverized” my left eye socket. Dr.’s statement. I also did have brain bleeding for several days post accident while in hospital for 2 weeks.
However I REALLY thank you for this opportunity to analyze where I am at and do hope and *pray the products bring me back to the half way normal I was before the accident
*(that ….praying and half way believing has taken a year to begin to return).
Sincerely
Vivian M.Mahoney
Hi Vivian.
Thank you so much for sharing your story. That is truly tragic and I am so sorry for your many, many losses. You are right, no brain could handle that amount of loss well.
And you are probably right that the damaged eye socket may have damaged your brain. I would suggest going to see either Dr. Daniel Amen or Dr. Majid Fotuhi who both have clinics that have helped hundreds of thousands of people who have experienced loss and tragedy and brain damage such as yourself.
Although MindBoost does help in many, many cases, I believe that yours is a situation where you need a more graduated plan of action. You can start with our 9 Pillars of Brain Health found here: https://simplesmartscience.com/blog/memory-and-exercise/ (Pillar #1 was posted last week and Pillar #2 is being posted today – the rest will come over the next 7 weeks).
I wish you the best through your journey in getting better and please email us at [email protected] if you have any specific questions. We are always here to help.
Thanks,
Julia
I just completed Dr. Fotuhi’s Brain Fitness Calculator test and my score was 37.
Hi Maria.
Thanks for sharing your score! You’re in an area where our 9 Pillars of Brain Health can greatly help to improve that score. Brain Health Pillar #1 was posted last week and #2 is being posted today. Just go to our blog to read them. Sign up for our newsletter to get them emailed to you weekly!
Thanks,
Julia
want to learn more
Hi Murray!
I’m excited you want to learn more! I am posting Brain Health Pillar #2 today. Please email us at [email protected] for more personal questions in regards to your situation. We’re always happy to help!
Julia
I apparently am on your application list for this report. I agree with you, but I have never received it and can’t understand why. I I had been able to download it, there would be no reason why I would I would continue to apply! Thanks.
Hi Joy.
Thanks for your comment. I’m sorry you didn’t get the report. I will email it to you at the email provided. Please let us know if you have other questions!
Julia
I signed up for your Smart Better Memory Report and it reported I have not confirmed. I do not recall getting anything to confirm. Please resend whatever it is I need to confirm as I would like this report. Thank you. Valyrie
Hi Valyrie.
Thanks for your question. Please email [email protected] if you still didn’t get the email with the Better Memory Report and we can send it to you.
Thanks!
Julia
I just completed Dr. Fotuhi’s Brain Fitness Calculator test and my score 48
Hi Valecia.
Although you’re in the yellow zone, at least you’re in the highest portion of the yellow zone. Give us a call at 888-503-2911 or email us [email protected] if you want to talk more about where you can improve.
Thanks!
Julia
I scored 50.
I know I need to get more sleep,
but play the piano almost daily,
love to read, go to church, where I sing in choir. I also sew and quilt.
Hi Carol.
That’s wonderful news. It sounds like you are doing all the right things. Give us a call at 888-503-2911 if you like to talk to someone about better sleep.
Congratulations on keeping your brain sharp.
Julia
I have done the Dr Fotuhi’s Brain Fitness Calculator.Very interesting I scored 54 points. I will definitely improve on all my weaknesses except the alcohol which I cannot drink. I have a clean bill of health and regular medical check up yearly for Heart, ENT, Respiratory system and Blood Glucose at four government hospitals.
49 points
I will check my email to see where I am to go next. Tom
Test completed – score = 49
I just know that I have a hard time in remembering and forgetful.Get frustrated often
Hi Charlotte.
This is extremely common. I suggest checking your diet (sugar is a memory eater), get exercise and plenty of sleep. Adding mediation and stress reducing activities will also help your memory.
And, of course, try our MindBoost Day. 🙂
Good luck to you!
Julia, CEO
Simple Smart Science
I scored 37 !!! I think this was a valuable test and showed me where I needed to improve!!!
At 80 years of age I’ve gone downhill a bit – in the past I would have scored considerably above 50, but now I’m 48? I am a retired Professor Emeritus of Social Work and I need to get out and involved with friends and my community! I need to practice what I preached!!!
My husband is happy to stay home and read all day, but I need more!
With a score of 42 what can I do to improve
Cheers alan
Hi Alan,
Congrats on taking the test and finding out where you are now. That is more than most people do. What I would suggest is getting a hold of our book The Brain Owners Owners Manual
Click here to get the book
This will help you create a plan to better your brain health.
Of course, I would have to recommend MindBoost Day too. You have to try that if you haven’t already.
Get MindBoost Day here
Be sure to keep us posted.
My score was 39- I was ill last year with a respiratory condition, from which I am recovering. I t has affected my ability to take on specific exercise programs.
Claudia,
I wouldn’t really worry about your score right now. What is important is to benchmark it and come back after 90 days to try the test again after you have tried MindBoost and the other brain improving techniques we teach. Then take the test again and see how much you improve.
Keep us posted.
Russell
interesting test. too generalized to be of much help but provides some food for thought as to areas a person might want to make some changes. I have continued to purchase the brain proof product because it seems to have helped me after 3 bottles to do a better job of correlating data in email preparation/chronological ordering of data and information than I was able to do 3 months ago! Still far to many senior moments for my satisfaction but recall is somewhat better. as Tara suggest I will continue to take the test but I have yet to successfully down load or take the other test i.e. the online comprehensive brain performance memory test. I have an Apple pro 15 computer and as far as I can tell i am current all my up dates.
Sincerely and respectfully submitted
Jimmy Brown
Mr. Brown,
First, thank you for trying our product. And let me tell you congratulations! Improved data correlation and chronological ordering improvements?
That sounds like a huge success to me.
In only 90 days?
Keep it up, that is a terrific improvement.
Let’s see how you feel after six months…
Take care,
Russell