Mini Mental Status Test: Treatment, Effect & Risks

Mini-Mental Status Test is the name given to a test method for detecting dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The method can be used to detect cognitive deficits.

What is the mini mental status test?

The Mini-Mental Status Test (MMST) is a simple testing method for detecting dementia. The method was developed by physician Folstein in 1975 and is also known as the Folstein test. Another name is the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). The Mini Mental State Examination is considered a suitable method for the initial assessment of cognitive deficits in the context of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, the method is suitable for monitoring the course of the disease. In the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, the Mini-Mental Status Test has become one of the most common methods. It consists of a questionnaire, through the use of which important brain functions such as language, attention, memory, orientation and arithmetic ability are checked.

Function, effect and goals

The Mini-Mental Status Test is used for the diagnostic clarification of mental performance disorders. Furthermore, its course is monitored. However, it cannot be used to diagnose the different forms of dementia. The Mini-Mental-Status-Test is carried out by the patient answering some relevant points on the questionnaire. Through the tasks set, the doctor can check important cognitive functions. These include memory and retentiveness, speech as well as language comprehension, spatial and temporal orientation, arithmetic, writing, reading and drawing. The test usually takes only 10 minutes to complete. The Mini-Mental Status Test consists of several questions. For example, the patient is asked to state the current time. If asked, he must also provide information about the date, day of the week, month, year or season. He receives one point for each question answered. Other questions in the test procedure include the current place of residence, in which state, county or city it is located and what the name of the clinic is. The next part of the Mini-Mental Status Test involves remembering and repeating three terms. These can be table, penny and apple. Furthermore, the patient must subtract seven from the number 100. The same applies to the result, which is done a total of five times. He then repeats the terms from test task 3. The doctor also shows him a wristwatch and a pen, which he must name correctly. He also repeats the phrase “no ifs and buts” as accurately as possible. The next part of the test involves folding a piece of paper. This is then placed on the floor. The patient is also asked to read the phrase “close your eyes” from a piece of paper and close his eyes. Test item 10 consists of writing down any sentence. The sentence should contain at least one predicate and one subject. It must be thought up spontaneously and without instructions. Correct grammar and spelling are not important. Finally, the patient draws two pentagons where there is an overlap. He receives a template for this. To ensure that the test result is not falsified, some important criteria must be observed. This means that there must be a disturbance-free atmosphere and no sensory impairments such as reduced hearing or visual performance. In addition, attention and brain performance can be affected by pain or a non-stimulating hospital environment. The measurable IQ decreases by up to 20 points in this case. At the end of the test, the doctor adds up the points awarded. The patient receives one point for each task that was successfully completed. The scale of the Mini-Mental Status Test ranges from 0 to 30 points. If the patient achieves 30 points, he has unrestricted cognitive functions. If, on the other hand, he does not receive a single point, severe impairment is present. A score of 20 to 26 is considered to indicate mild dementia. 10 to 19 points indicate moderate dementia. If no more than 9 points are scored, this is considered an indication of severe dementia. It only takes a few minutes for the test to be scored.

Risks, side effects, and dangers

In principle, the Mini-Mental Status Test is considered a reliable rapid screening procedure that can be performed quickly and easily.Risks and side effects are not to be feared, since it is only a matter of answering a questionnaire. One disadvantage of the method, however, is its high susceptibility to interference. In addition, cognitive deficits can only be roughly assessed by the method. In people with a high level of education, the Mini-Mental Status Test can often lead to a false result, which means that dementia cannot be detected. On the other hand, if there is a low level of education, there is a risk of a false positive result. Furthermore, the Mini-Mental-Status-Test cannot differentiate between the different cognitive abilities. For this reason, it is often performed together with other test methods. Some physicians also criticize that mild cognitive disorders cannot be diagnosed with the test method. British studies also point to the danger that healthy people are classified as ill when they are not. In addition, the predictive value of a test always depends on the frequency of the disease. If the disease occurs less frequently, the improbability increases that a positive result of the test really indicates a disorder. In the case of a positive result of the Mini-Mental Status Test, a careful differentiation from depression must be made. For example, these can also significantly limit cognitive function.