MiniMental

MiniMental, commonly referred to as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), is a brief standardized instrument used to screen for cognitive dysfunction and to estimate the severity of cognitive impairment. It is widely employed in clinical settings such as primary care, geriatrics, neurology, and in research for baseline assessment and longitudinal monitoring.

The MMSE was developed in 1975 by Marshall Folstein, Susan Folstein, and Paul McHugh. The test is a 30-point questionnaire that assesses several cognitive domains, including orientation to time and place, registration of new information, attention and calculation, recall, language abilities, and visuospatial skills. Administration typically requires about 5 to 10 minutes and can be completed with basic patient cooperation. In some cases, alternate forms or administration aids are used to reduce practice effects in repeated testing.

Scoring and interpretation revolve around a 0 to 30 scale. Higher scores indicate better cognitive performance. While cutoffs vary with age and education, commonly cited ranges suggest that 24 to 30 is normal, 18 to 23 indicates mild impairment, and 0 to 17 suggests more severe impairment. Practitioners emphasize that MMSE results must be interpreted in the context of the individual’s educational background, language proficiency, cultural factors, and mood, and that a low score is not by itself a diagnosis of dementia. It serves as a screening and monitoring tool to guide further assessment.

Limitations include educational and cultural biases, language barriers, and reduced sensitivity to very mild cognitive impairment. Alternatives and supplements, such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) or the Brief Cognitive Rating Scale, may be used when a more sensitive or broader evaluation is required.