Dementia

The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is a commonly used tool to measure the severity of cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease and other related disorders. The total score of MMSE is 30, and a score of 23 or less is considered an indicator of cognitive impairment. The MMSE evaluates five cognitive functions including orientation (time and place), registration, attention and concentration, short-term memory, and language and visuospatial abilities.

For the orientation test, the patient is asked about their sense of time and place. The registration test involves learning three things for later recall. The attention and concentration test involves performing simple arithmetic calculations. The short-term memory test involves recalling the three items learned in the registration test. The language and visuospatial ability test involves tasks such as naming daily necessities, repeating a sentence, reading and following instructions, and writing a sentence and drawing two overlapping pentagons.

MMSE is a quick and reliable tool that can help assess cognitive function and monitor the progression of dementia. However, it is important to note that there are some limitations to MMSE as it does not comprehensively evaluate all cognitive domains and may not detect mild cognitive impairment. Additionally, factors such as cultural background, education level, and language barriers can affect the results.

Review Questions:

• What is the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) used for?
• What is the maximum score in MMSE and what score indicates cognitive impairment?
• What cognitive functions are evaluated in the MMSE test?