Key Takeaways
- The company reveals a platform migration; users must reset their passwords while account data remains intact.
- The brain-health tool is backed by peer-reviewed science and developed by a leading cognitive-neuroscience centre.
- It offers a practical way to assess memory and attention, with a clear path to consult a clinician when warranted.
- While not a diagnosis, this tool empowers adults to decide when follow-up is needed.
What’s Included
The following narrative draws on all the details: the migration email, security advice, an overview of the company and its services, and the published research validating the tool.
Email Announcement & How to Act
A message from the company states that, as of 20 October 2025 (Europe/Amsterdam time), the website has moved to a new platform. Because the company does not store user passwords, all existing users must create a new password when logging in. Account information and previous brain-health assessment data are not affected.
The instructions say to click the password-reset link, carefully enter your email address, check your inbox (or spam folder) for the reset email, follow the link to the reset page, and then either type a new password or use the “Generate Password” option. After clicking “Save Password,” a confirmation message will appear, and you should be able to log in using your email and new password.
The email also states that if you wish to cancel your account or withdraw consent for the collection or use of personal information, you may contact the company at info@cogniciti.com. The company’s address is given as the Kimel Family Building, 3560 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6A 2E1.
Security Considerations
Although the email appears consistent with legitimate service-updates, it’s wise to follow safe practices:
- Rather than clicking links in the email, go manually to https://www.cogniciti.com and proceed from there.
- Ensure the site uses HTTPS and that the sender address appears correct (info@cogniciti.com).
- If in doubt, contact the company directly to confirm the change.
About the Company and Tool
The company is a brain-health platform developed by a well-known Canadian ageing research institution affiliated with the University of Toronto. Its core offering is an online Brain Health Assessment (BHA) that takes roughly 20-30 minutes and is available free, private, and clinically researched. According to the website, it is designed to address this question: “Is my memory normal or should I see my doctor?”.
Adults aged about 20 to 94 are eligible for the BHA, which provides a personalized report and an action plan. The company emphasises that the test is “scientifically validated” and developed by researchers at the affiliated centre.
Beyond the assessment, the platform provides lifestyle guidance (diet, exercise, sleep, stress), workshops, and a “Smart Tracker” for monitoring sleep, diet and exercise over time.
Scientific Evidence Behind the Tool
Validation Study
A key peer-reviewed paper titled “Accuracy of a Self-Administered Online Cognitive Assessment in Detecting Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI)” (Paterson et al., 2022) recruited 91 older adults (51 with aMCI, 40 with normal cognition). It compared the BHA to the clinician-administered Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).
- The BHA achieved an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.76 (95% CI 0.66-0.86).
- The MoCA AUC was 0.71 (95% CI 0.61-0.82).
- For BHA: sensitivity 57 %, specificity 83 %. For MoCA: sensitivity 65 %, specificity 70 %.
- The BHA classified fewer participants as “inconclusive” (56 %) compared to MoCA (70 %).
These findings show that the BHA performs comparably to a widely-used clinical screener and offers advantages in identifying normal cognitive function.
Psychometric Foundation
Earlier work (Troyer et al., 2014) described the development and evaluation of the self-administered online test for adults 50–79 years of age. It reported good internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and normative data. The project recruited approximately 300 adults for lab testing ahead of launch.
Independent Review
A recent exploratory review (Nicotra et al., 2023) assessed online brain-health tools and identified the BHA as one of the few publicly available, self-administered instruments with peer-reviewed validation, suitable for use across the adult lifespan (ages 20–94).
What It Means for You
- If you receive the migration email, you can feel reasonably confident it aligns with the company’s published notice.
- Using the BHA offers a practical, research-based way to check memory and attention.
- If your result comes back “below normal” for your age/education, it’s a prompt to talk to your clinician—not a diagnosis.
- If your result is “normal,” you still benefit by establishing a baseline and may consider repeating the test every 6-12 months.
- Maintain healthy brain-supporting habits: regular exercise, balanced diet, good sleep, cognitive/social engagement.
Brief Translations & Technical Terms
Brain Health Assessment (BHA)
English: A free, private, online tool developed to evaluate memory and attention in adults and provide a personalized report.
Origin: Developed by the associated research institution’s team in Canada; publicly launched by the platform.
Acceptance: Peer-reviewed studies support its validity and reliability.
Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI)
English: A subtype of mild cognitive impairment where memory loss is the prominent symptom, considered a prodromal stage of Alzheimer’s disease.
Borrowing: Clinical neurological term widely used in neuropsychology.
Acceptance: Recognised in research and clinical practice as a possible early stage of Alzheimer’s.
Final Thoughts
In a digital health era, this platform migration and required password reset are administrative and security-driven rather than a red flag. Meanwhile, the online Brain Health Assessment offers a credible, scientifically supported way for adults to monitor and reflect on their cognitive well-being. Used wisely, it complements—not replaces—traditional clinical evaluation, and helps adults stay proactive about brain health across the lifespan.
Sources
- https://www.cogniciti.com/Test-Your-Brain-Health/Brain-Health-Assessment — official assessment description
- https://academic.oup.com/psychsocgerontology/article/77/2/341/6323215 — Paterson TSE et al., 2022 validation study
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10826206/ — Nicotra A et al., 2023 exploratory review
- https://www.baycrest.org/Baycrest-Pages/News-Media/News/Research/Baycrest-developed-at-home-cognitive-assessment-pe — Baycrest news release, Oct 12 2021
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue9yTZ4Dihg — “Cogniciti’s Free Online Brain Health Assessment” video
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 