Mini-Mental State Examination Scores in Dementia and Capacity Assessment: A Narrative Review.

Authors

Nahum Rosenberg

Published in

Journal of geriatric psychiatry and neurology. Pages 8919887261486064. Sep 04, 2026. Epub Sep 04, 2026.

Abstract

BackgroundThe Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is widely used in older adults, but its numerical score is sometimes overinterpreted in dementia diagnosis and capacity assessment.This review examined the hypothesis that the MMSE provides screening information but cannot diagnose dementia or determine decision-specific capacity.MethodsThis narrative review synthesized PubMed-indexed evidence concerning diagnostic accuracy, dementia criteria, alternative screens, and cultural, literacy, sensory, and capacity-related influences.ResultsMMSE performance modifies diagnostic probability but does not establish a diagnosis of dementia. Accuracy varies with threshold, setting, education, language, culture, clinical stage, sensory status, and prevalence. Alternative screens sample cognition differently but require contextual interpretation. Patient agreement, voluntary participation, and standardized administration are necessary; sensory barriers or incomplete testing may render a score uninterpretable. Capacity assessment requires evaluation of understanding, appreciation, reasoning, choice, consequences, and context.ConclusionsMMSE findings should be integrated with clinical, functional, sensory, collateral, and decision-specific evidence, not used alone.

PMID:
42696655
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 05 Sep 2026.

Read full publication at:
Please sign in to see all details.

Stats

1-terrible, 9-excellent. How would you rate this publication? Sign in in to submit your rating.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.