Validity of the Mini-Mental State examination as a screening instrument for cognitive impairment and dementia in French elderly community residents

Neuroepidemiology. 1990;9(3):143-50. doi: 10.1159/000110764.

Abstract

A survey was made of 2,792 subjects aged 65 and older living in the community of Gironde (South-Western France). The predictive value of the Mini-Mental state examination (MMS) as a screening instrument for the detection of cognitive impairment was tested against DSM-III criteria for dementing syndromes. Of the 2,792 subjects who consented to participate in the study, 101 met the DSM-III criteria for dementia, giving a 3.62% prevalence rate. With an MMS threshold of 24, the sensitivity was 100%, the specificity was 78%, and the positive predictive value was equal to 15%. Using the same MMS threshold, 572 subjects (85%) were false-positive for the diagnosis of dementia. A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that age, sex, depressive symptomatology and educational level were independently correlated with false-positive cases of the MMS. Several issues are raised for using the MMS as the only screening instrument for cognitive impairment in elderly community residents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cognition Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Cognition Disorders / epidemiology
  • Community Medicine
  • Dementia / diagnosis*
  • Dementia / epidemiology
  • France / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Mass Screening
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prospective Studies
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales*
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Factors