A clock drawing test for detecting cognitive dysfunction should be conducted routinely in patients with high blood pressure, according to research presented today at ESC Congress 2018.

The researchers found a higher prevalence of cognitive impairment with the clock drawing test (36%) compared to the MMSE (21%). Three out ten patients who had a normal MMSE score had an abnormal clock ...

All you need to do is draw a clock, add numbers one to 12, and draw hands at a set time. For example, a popular technique asks the participants to draw a clock showing the time as 10 minutes past 11.

Once they have drawn the clock face, ask them to put all the numbers in, and ask them to draw the hands onto the clock at a specific time - for example at 3.15pm.