What is the MMSE?
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EmailIt only takes a few minutes, and it can seem simple, if not shallow. But the Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) is really a comprehensive test that covers most of the bases from memory to mathematics ability.
The Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) is the test best known to the public as the one used by doctors to determine whether or not a person has Alzheimer’s disease.
But really, the MMSE is used for many other purposes as well. Neurologists, psychiatrists, gerontologists and other doctors often use it to check response to medication and to follow the course of an illness like Alzheimer’s by measuring cognitive changes over time.
The test was created by three doctors (Marshal F. Folstein, MD, Susan E. Folstein, MD and Paul R. McHugh, MD) in the 1970s and is widely used by researchers as well as clinicians. It takes only 10 minutes to administer, and is commonly used to screen for most dementias, including Alzheimer’s disease.
Scoring is adjusted for age and education level. A maximum of 30 points is earned on the test, but top scores are reduced for people with lower education levels as well as in consonance with aging.
In general, a score of 26 or less indicates cognitive impairment and the need for further evaluation. People with Alzheimer’s disease generally report scores of 26 and lower.
The test itself is comprised of questions that tap five areas of memory and importance:
- Orientation (the date, season, area and specific address)
- Registration (identifying and memorizing objects)
- Attention and calculation (counting serial 7s)
- Recall (the ability to remember what was memorized earlier)
- Language use and comprehension (naming items, following a simple command, writing a sentence and copying a design)
Low scores can also be caused by physical problems as well, so it is important to get a complete history of the patient before administering the MMSE. Any hearing or visual impairment, inherent learning disability or motor deficit that affects writing and drawing ability can also bring down the numbers.
The bottom line: the MMSE is painless, easy and takes very little time. Best bet: when in doubt, check it out.
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To purchase copies of the MMSE, for licensing, or for more information, contact:
Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc.
http://www.minimental.com
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