Testing for Alzheimers

http://www.brl.ntt.co.jp/people/hara/fly.swf

See whether you are currently at risk.

Alzheimer's!
This is really clever and a bit challenging. As we older people are concerned with Alzheimer's disease, this puzzle may help dispel some fear. It's easy to put together if you are not affected by Alzheimer's disease, but impossible to do for someone with the disease. Give it a try. If this puzzle is particularly difficult for you, then your physician can offer you additional testing to check you for Alzheimer's.
Just remember, if you can put this puzzle together, you do not have to fear Alzheimer's!
A really neat puzzle!!

THERE'S A PIECE MISSING!!! THERE'S A PIECE MISSING!!! 

(Hahaha. That is a cool puzzle. Thanks.)

How did you approach the solution? A female friend and I have been discussing the differing approaches.

There is no piece missing and I did what I always do - start with the 4 corners.

Might be better to let others play with it first. Wouldn't want any cheaters getting false negatives after having read approaches. Where did you find it? Does it have any foundation/validity or is it just pop/internet medical diagnosis thing? (Well, obviously it's that, but....)

And any chance we can invite Bennie back for a day?

I can see how the shapes and moving graphic would totally confuse a person with Alzheimers. I have been told another early test is to draw a clock with all the numbers.

Neil,it looks like my son,wife and visiting nieces aren't at risk,they all individually put it together quickly,at least I'll have people to care for me even if I can't remember who they are.

Puzzled I am not.  

I had a piece missing so I guess I've got it. I was very frustrated doing it.

Wifey got it all together and got a hand clap from the audience.

How can you end up with a piece missing? Have a feeling we are getting our chains jerked?

RosaVenus: Ditto here for missing piece

Vandre wrote:RosaVenus: Ditto here for missing piece

overlap... pull some larger pieces away to find ones hiding behind

Oops, got it.

So far, I have seen two approaches to solving this puzzle and really wonder what leads people towards one or the other? One person has speculated that it may be the difference between the thought processes of females vs males? Another bit of speculation has it being the difference between an analytical mind and say an artistic type mind?

Some will following the moving design and fit the puzzle together off of that aspect. While others may drag the blue pieces apart and fit the puzzle together in that manner.

I have not seen an explanation of just how this is a test for Alzheimers but I am guessing that it is a test for logical thinking?

Seems to me... the moving design is irrelevant as the test is fitting the puzzle pieces together. Nothing more than a distraction.
In this test, you must move away pieces in order to introduce pieces, otherwise you will overlap.

First of all, I was kidding about there being a piece missing. Humor is hard.

Re approach: I started putting it together by trying to piece together the animated portion, but quickly saw that would be more effort than probably worth. So I pieced together the "obvious" blue parts, then everything jumps into place.

As a test, I decided to piece together by concentrating strictly on the moving design. I spread the pieces apart and then concentrated on the moving design working in and out of the pieces. While I was able to solve this way, to me it wasn't as natural and took a good deal more time that simply working on the blue pieces. Interesting exercise!

My wife said she put the edges together and it pieced together rather quickly she had it done in nothing flat, me on the other hand had a bit of trouble getting it going and I must of over lapped something cause I was out of pieces with a gap.

Oh right !! me too.......... I was just kidding.

OK, I wasn't kidding. I did end up with a small piece missing when i first did it. And, I'm embarrassed to say I accepted that result (without trying again), influenced by another posters same outcome.
Now for the methodology. I paid no attention to the moving design. I did not move the pieces out and about to get a better view. I simply clicked and rapidly moved them straight up into position in the box.
Had I tried this puzzle after Hocks post, I, of course, would have had a heads up & moved them out into a larger space.
Unfortunately, I think by discussing this, it has ruined it for those that have not tried it yet. Maybe Bob could delete everything after the original link and set a time limit (3 days?) before people discuss their strategy and outcome.
Anyway, it was fun ..... and, in my case, eye-opening that speed was my motivator and accuracy was of secondary importance.
Got another one?

Well, that's a relief!!   Cancel the MRA!