Cited by 5,152Dementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchPsychological Testing and AssessmentHistorical and Modern Theater Studies

The Mini‐Mental State Examination: A Comprehensive Review

Tombaugh, Tom N., McIntyre, Nancy J.·1992·Journal of the American Geriatrics Society

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of information accumulated over the past 26 years regarding the psychometric properties and utility of the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE). Participants: The reviewed studies assessed a wide variety of subjects, ranging from cognitively intact community residents to those with severe cognitive impairment associated with various types of dementing illnesses. Main Outcome Measures: The validity of the MMSE was compared against a variety of gold standards, including DSM‐III‐R and NINCDS‐ADRDA criteria, clinical diagnoses, Activities of Daily Living measures, and other tests that putatively identify and measure cognitive impairment. Results: Reliability and construct validity were judged to be satisfactory. Measures of criterion validity showed high levels of sensitivity for moderate‐to‐severe cognitive impairment and lower levels for mild degrees of impairment. Content analyses revealed the MMSE was highly verbal, and not all items were equally sensitive to cognitive impairment. Items measuring language were judged to be relatively easy and lacked utility for identifying mild language deficits. Overall, MMSE scores were affected by age, education, and cultural background, but not gender. Conclusions: In general, the MMSE fulfilled its original goal of providing a brief screening test that quantitatively assesses the severity of cognitive impairment and documents cognitive changes occurring over time. The MMSE should not, by itself, be used as a diagnostic tool to identify dementia. Suggestions for the clinical use of the MMSE are made.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1992.tb01992.x

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Authors
Tombaugh, T. N., & McIntyre, N. J.
Affiliations
Carleton University (CA)
Venue
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Publisher
Wiley
Published
1992-09
Volume
40
Issue
9
Pages
922-935
ISSN
  • 0002-8614 (ISSN-L)
  • 1532-5415
OpenAlex
W2109140840
Cited by
5,152
References
161
Citations by year
2026: 207 · 2025: 257 · 2024: 233 · 2023: 231 · 2022: 239 · 2021: 283 · 2020: 279 · 2019: 271 · 2018: 257 · 2017: 232 · 2016: 222 · 2015: 182 · 2014: 195 · 2013: 166 · 2012: 179
FWCI
6.28
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Mental Health
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Psychological Testing and Assessment
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Historical and Modern Theater Studies
Keywords
Mini-Mental State Examination, cognitive screening, dementia diagnosis, psychometric properties, criterion validity, construct validity, reliability statistics, language assessment, NINCDS-ADRDA criteria, DSM-III-R
MeSH terms
Activities of Daily Living, Age Factors, Aged, Cognition Disorders, Dementia, Female, Humans, Probability, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Psychological Tests, Psychometrics, Sensitivity and Specificity, Severity of Illness Index, Sex Factors, Reproducibility of Results

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