The CNS Vital Signs™ test measures how you perform tasks involving memory, attention, processing speed and other thinking abilities. At MaxWell Clinic, this computerized cognitive assessment helps your clinician understand your current performance and provides a starting point for comparison over time.
Whether you are considering testing or already have an appointment, this guide explains what to expect, how to prepare and how your results are reviewed. You can also contact the clinic to ask about taking the assessment online.
What Is a CNS Vital Signs™ Test?
The CNS Vital Signs™ test uses the CNS Vital Signs platform, often abbreviated CNSVS. It is a series of computer-based tasks that assess different thinking skills. Clinicians call this neurocognitive testing. The results describe your performance in several areas, rather than reducing it to a single score.
The assessment can support screening and follow-up, but it does not establish a diagnosis by itself. Your clinician considers the findings alongside your symptoms, health history and other information.
Dr. David Haase Explains the Assessment
Watch Dr. Haase discuss why MaxWell Clinic uses this test and what to expect before, during and after your appointment.
Read the Video Transcript
Dr. David Haase’s video transcript, edited for readability with filler words and false starts removed.
Ever wish you could pop the hood on your own brain and see how fast the gears are turning? Like where they’re humming and where a tune-up might help.
I’m Dr. David Haase from the MaxWell Clinic. Soon you’ll be taking your upcoming CNS Vital Signs, which stands for Central Nervous System Vital Signs. It is a computerized neurocognitive test, and you’ll either be taking it in the quiet of our testing room here at the clinic or from the comfort of your own home computer. This quick computer-based test lets us do exactly that. In the next few minutes, I’ll show you how it reveals your memory, attention, processing speed, and all kinds of other important brain metrics. I want you to arrive or log in confident, well prepared, and ready to turn those 20 or 30 minutes into meaningful insights for your cognitive health, because your brain is your most important organ. Your quality of life is dependent upon your brain. So we really want to know what’s going on there.
So again, what is CNS Vital Signs? It is a scientifically validated computerized neurocognitive test. It’s used in thousands of clinics across the world. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes to complete, and it automatically compares your results to age-matched norms across 11 core brain functions. Think of it as a fitness test for your brain, revealing where you’re strong, where you’re average, and where you might need a little extra support.
You’re going to move through a series of quick tasks that measure these areas. First of all, memory. We’ll test your verbal memory and visual recall. We’ll assess your processing speed. That’s how quickly your brain takes in and responds to information. We’re going to measure your executive function and cognitive flexibility. That’s your ability to plan and switch tasks, solve problems, and stay with a particular course of action. We’re going to measure your attention and your reaction time. The ability to sustain focus and rapidly respond accurately to the events in your world is incredibly important. So by the end, we get a multidimensional scorecard that tells us far more than any single memory quiz or crossword puzzle ever could.
At MaxWell Clinic, we believe what gets measured gets improved. Your brain is the most important organ in the body, and the best way we can tell how it is functioning is to test its function. CNS Vital Signs gives us an objective baseline before beginning therapies such as neurofeedback or habitat optimizing plasma exchange or ketamine-assisted therapy. It also helps us to track your progress over time, so you can literally see your brain getting fitter, faster, and more resilient. This test empowers us and you to personalize your care plan, target the right therapies, and celebrate your gains with hard data, not just gut feelings.
Where you take the test depends upon our circumstances. We really prefer to run your CNS Vital Signs assessment right here in the clinic, where we can control the lighting, the noise level, and the equipment for the most reliable results. But we also recognize many patients travel in from out of town, across the country, and around the world. So an at-home option is available, and we’ll make that available to you. In these two choices, if you’re doing the test in the clinic, we’ll seat you in a quiet testing room with a full-size keyboard and mouse and a trained team member ready to answer your questions. If you do this at home, we’ll email you a secure link. We’ll ask you to take the test on your laptop or your desktop, and those results will flow straight to us with the same accuracy, just added convenience. If you do this at home, make certain that you tell everybody in your home that this is what you’re doing, that you turn off your phone, you turn off everything that could be a distractor in your environment, that you listen to the instructions very carefully, and that you do the practice tests built into it to give you a little extra confidence. Make sure you follow those instructions, and this goes wonderfully.
Now, here are my pro tips for getting top-quality results. Choose a quiet, well-lit space. I already told you to turn off your phone, but if you can’t turn it off, at least silence it. Turn off your notifications and let everybody know you’re going to be unavailable for about half an hour. Use a laptop or a desktop with a really stable internet connection and a full-size keyboard. Tablets or phones can slow the reaction time score, so we don’t want you to use those. We want you to sit comfortably with both your keyboard and your mouse in easy reach. And test when you’re alert. Morning or early afternoon is ideal. Probably want you to skip it if you’re profoundly sleep-deprived or feeling unwell. Stay hydrated, but visit the restroom first so you won’t need a break. There’s additional instructions to avoid caffeine and some of your medications before you do this test, but talk to your clinician about exactly what the right testing conditions are for your particular biology so that we’re truly measuring what matters.
So what happens after the test? Your scores calculate instantly, and we’ll upload the full report to our secure patient portal. Feel free to peek, but don’t stress about interpreting every number. That’s our job. At your next appointment, a clinician will walk you through each domain, highlight your strengths, flag any areas that might need support, and map out next steps together. Whether that’s targeted brain training, nutritional tweaks, advanced therapies, or simply tracking your progress every 6 to 12 months, as you would with your blood pressure. We pay a lot of attention to the heart, but we should be looking at the vital signs of the brain just as often and as completely as we do your blood pressure.
This test is designed to be tough. That’s by design. It’s there to test the limits of everybody that takes it. Most everybody feels like they did bad on this test. That’s normal. The truth is the only way to do bad on the test is to either not try or to not take it at all, because by the end you’ll have insights into your most important organ. And that’s a major step to you getting to experience the fullness of your MaxWell.
There’s nothing to study for. Simply follow these quick guidelines. Relax. Let the assessment do its job. If any questions pop up, call or text us anytime at 615-370-0091, and we’ll be happy to help. So proud of you for taking this step to quantify your health so that you may continue to improve your health. Take care.
What Does CNS Vital Signs™ Measure?
The assessment looks at several thinking skills, including:
- Memory: Remembering words and visual information.
- Processing speed: How quickly you work with information.
- Executive function and cognitive flexibility: Following rules and switching between tasks or instructions.
- Attention and reaction time: Staying focused and responding to what appears on the screen.
These are grouped examples. The standard core battery reports on 11 areas of performance, using seven short tests. Your clinician selects the assessment appropriate for your testing plan. The manufacturer explains the CNS Vital Signs™ test and its scoring in more detail.
Why Does MaxWell Clinic Use Cognitive Testing?
Changes in memory or concentration can be hard to describe. Testing gives you and your clinician specific information to discuss alongside what you notice in daily life.
An initial assessment establishes a baseline, or starting point for comparison. Later testing can help your clinician follow changes over time and consider whether further evaluation is needed. A higher score on a repeat test does not, by itself, prove that a treatment worked. Familiarity with the tasks can also affect performance.
Can I Take the Assessment Online?
MaxWell Clinic offers testing in the clinic and remote testing when appropriate. Contact the team to discuss which option fits your circumstances, including if you live outside Tennessee.
Testing at the Clinic
You will use a computer in a quiet setting, with a team member available to help with instructions or equipment.
Taking the Test at Home
For an arranged remote assessment, the clinic sends you a secure testing link. Use a laptop or desktop computer with a keyboard and a reliable internet connection. Set aside a quiet space where you can work without interruptions. Follow the clinic’s equipment instructions rather than trying to complete the assessment on a phone or tablet.
Before booking, ask about eligibility, cost and how you will review your results with a clinician.
How to Prepare for the CNS Vital Signs™ Test
Before your CNS Vital Signs™ test, ask your clinician whether you need to make any changes to caffeine, medications or supplements. Your instructions should reflect your individual testing plan. Do not stop or change medications unless your clinician tells you to.
Before you begin:
- Check that your computer and keyboard are ready if you are testing at home.
- Choose a quiet, well-lit space and silence notifications.
- Have your glasses, hearing aids or other usual assistive devices available.
- Read the instructions carefully and ask for help if anything is unclear.
Tell the clinic about anything that could make the session difficult, such as trouble seeing the screen, using the keyboard or understanding the instructions.
Understanding Your CNS Vital Signs™ Report
The report compares your performance with reference scores from people in your age group. It shows separate results for different abilities, so you may score differently on memory, attention and speed.
Your MaxWell clinician reviews those results alongside your symptoms, health history and testing conditions. Ask which findings matter for your concerns and what the next step should be. A report is a starting point for that discussion, not a diagnosis to interpret on your own.
If you are looking for a broader cognitive assessment, explore MaxWell Clinic’s cognitive health evaluation. That service includes more than this computerized test.
Questions About CNS Vital Signs™ Testing
How Long Does a CNS Vital Signs™ Test Take?
The time depends on the tests and any questionnaires included in your appointment. Ask the clinic how much time to reserve for your particular assessment and whether the results discussion will be a separate visit.
Is There a CNS Vital Signs™ Practice Test?
Ask the clinic what instructions or practice activities are included before the scored tasks begin. You do not need to study answers. The purpose is to understand your current performance, so follow the instructions and give your best effort.
What If the Test Feels Difficult?
Some tasks may feel demanding, especially when you need to respond quickly. Tell the team if instructions were confusing or if something interrupted your session. That context matters when your clinician reviews the report.
What If My Scores Do Not Match How I Feel?
Bring that concern to your results appointment. Describe specific examples, such as losing track of a conversation or having trouble completing familiar work. Your clinician needs to consider those experiences alongside the test results, whether your scores are higher or lower than you expected.
Can CNS Vital Signs™ Diagnose ADHD or Dementia?
It cannot establish either diagnosis on its own. Computerized testing can contribute information to an evaluation, but your clinician also considers your history, symptoms and other findings. Depending on your concerns, additional assessment or a specialist referral may be appropriate.
How Much Does Testing Cost?
Contact MaxWell Clinic for current fees and ask what is included, particularly the clinician’s review of your results. If you are considering online testing, ask about the full process before scheduling.
What If I Need to Reschedule?
Contact the clinic as soon as your plans change. The team can explain the cancellation policy that applies to your appointment.
Learn More or Arrange Your Test
Not ready to book? You can request the free guide, Early Signs of Cognitive Decline: What You Need to Know, through the form on our cognitive health evaluation page.
To ask about a CNS test, including taking it online, call 615-370-0091 or contact MaxWell Clinic. Our team can help you arrange your CNS Vital Signs™ test and explain what to expect.
Disclaimer
This blog provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects. The information and other content provided in this blog, website or in any linked materials are not intended and should not be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This blog does not constitute the practice of any medical, nursing or other professional health care advice, diagnosis or treatment. We cannot diagnose conditions, provide second opinions or make specific treatment recommendations through this blog or website.
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