The test used, the MoCA test, is not diagnostic or analytic, but it can identify gradual patterns of dementia

Trump took and passed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, or MoCA test. According to the test itself, it is a “brief cognitive screening tool for Mild Cognitive Impairment.” During the test, the test-taker is asked to identify animals, draw hands on a clock in a certain position, and memorize certain words in a specific order.

This short exam is designed to spot dementia symptoms that come with neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease. It’s useful in patients who have had a stroke, or to measure cognitive decline over time.

This test does not measure personality, critical thinking, decision-making, IQ, or any other mental facets. Trump is the first president to have ever taken this test or anything like it.