Overview
Clinical Meaning
Cognitive screening tools are brief, standardized assessments that evaluate multiple cognitive domains to detect impairment.
Cognitive screening tools are brief, standardized assessments that evaluate multiple cognitive domains to detect impairment. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) evaluates visuospatial/executive function, naming, memory, attention, language, abstraction, delayed recall, and orientation (30 points; <26 suggests MCI). The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) assesses orientation, registration, attention/calculation, recall, and language (30 points; <24 suggests dementia; less sensitive for MCI than MoCA). The Mini-Cog combines 3-word recall with clock drawing (quick 3-minute screen). The Saint Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) is more sensitive than MMSE for MCI detection. Each tool has different sensitivity/specificity profiles, and selection depends on the clinical setting, time available, and purpose of screening.