title: Sensitivity of the Mini-Mental State Examination to frontal lobe dysfunction in normal aging.
abstract: The present study examined the sensitivity of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in detecting the frontal lobe dysfunction that occurs with normal aging. Eighty normal, independently living older adults in four age groupings from 50 to 89 were administered the MMSE along with three neurocognitive measures sensitive to frontal lobe functioning. Results revealed age-related cognitive decline on frontal lobe tasks that also was detected by the MMSE. These findings are noteworthy because the MMSE was intended as a measure of gross cognitive status rather than of frontal lobe functioning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Psychology Service, Allen Park, MI 48101.
authors.forename: B N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Axelrod
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Henry
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D012016:Reference Values