Simplifying detection of cognitive impairment: comparison of the Mini-Cog and Mini-Mental State Examination in a multiethnic sample.
OBJECTIVE
To compare detection of cognitive impairment using the Mini-Cog and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and to identify sociodemographic variables that influence detection in an ethnoculturally diverse sample.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
A registry of the University of Washington Alzheimer's Disease Research Center Satellite.


METHODS
A heterogeneous community sample (n=371) of predominantly ethnic minority elderly assessed using a standardized research protocol, 231 of whom met criteria for dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI).


METHODS
Demographic data, a standardized research protocol for cognitive assessment and dementia diagnosis, MMSE, and Mini-Cog.


RESULTS
Both screens effectively detected cognitive impairment, the Mini-Cog slightly better than the MMSE (P<.01). Overall accuracy of classification was 83% for the Mini-Cog and 81% for the MMSE. The Mini-Cog was superior in recognizing patients with Alzheimer-type dementias (P=.05). Low education negatively affected detection using the MMSE (P<.001), whereas education did not affect the Mini-Cog, and low literacy minimally affected it.


CONCLUSIONS
The Mini-Cog detects clinically significant cognitive impairment as well as or better than the MMSE in multiethnic elderly individuals, is easier to administer to non-English speakers, and is less biased by low education and literacy.
Borson
Soo
S
Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA. soob@u.washington.edu
Scanlan
James M
JM
Watanabe
Jill
J
Tu
Shin-Ping
SP
Lessig
Mary
M
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis; D004522:Educational Status; D005006:Ethnicity; D006801:Humans; D008609:Mental Status Schedule