Development and validation of the Memory Orientation Screening Test (MOST™): A better screening test for dementia.
OBJECTIVE
Accurate, economical identification of cognitive impairment would increase dementia detection and improve care of older patients.


METHODS
Analysis of archival neuropsychological data combined 3-word recall, time orientation, list memory, and clock drawing into the Memory Orientation Screening Test (MOST ™). The MOST was compared with Folstein Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Mini-Cog to detect dementia presence and severity, and convergence with standardized neuropsychological tests. Internal consistency, retest reliabilities, completion likelihood, and time costs were calculated.


RESULTS
The MOST was significantly more sensitive than MMSE or Mini-Cog, twice as accurate as MMSE for identifying mild dementia, better correlated with standardized memory tests, more reliable over time, and minimally related to depression.


CONCLUSIONS
The MOST is routinely administered in less than 5 minutes by a medical assistant, more accurately identifies dementia and severity than current screening tests, and emulates longer memory testing, making it valuable for Annual Wellness Visits and many applied clinical settings.
Clionsky Neuro Systems, Springfield, MA, USA. mitch@cns-neuro.com
Mitchell I
MI
Clionsky
Emilymarie
E
Clionsky
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015588:Observer Variation; D009949:Orientation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results