Predicting Everyday Functional Abilities of Dementia Patients With the Mini-Mental State Examination

Abstract

The Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) is a widely used cognitive screening measure. The purpose of the present study was to assess how 5 specific clusters of MMSE items (i.e., subscores) correlate with and predict specific areas of daily functioning in patients with dementia. Sixty-one patients with varied forms of dementia were administered the MMSE and an observation-based daily functional test (the Direct Assessment of Functional Status; DAFS). The results revealed that the orientation and attention subscores of the MMSE correlated most significantly with nearly all of the functional domains. The MMSE language items correlated with all but the DAFS shopping and time orientation tasks, while the MMSE recall items correlated with the DAFS time orientation and shopping tasks. Stepwise regression analyses found that among the MMSE subscores, orientation was the single, best independent predictor of most of the DAFS functional domains, with language, attention and recall subscores accounting for additional variance on DAFS functional tasks. These results indicate that the MMSE is not only a good cognitive screening tool, but its specific subsores can predict functional disabilities in patients with dementia.

Is There a Relationship BetweenMini Mental Status ExaminationScores and the Activities of Daily Living Abilities of Clients Presenting with Suspected Dementia?

“…This finding diverges from previous studies that have indicated that the MMSE total score was linked with daily functioning (Warren et al, 1989) and predicted these skill-related constructs when other assessments were used (Ford et al, 1996;Gill et al, 1997;Royall et al, 2007;Razani et al, 2009).…”

“…Warren et al (1989) found a strong association between Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) and the MMSE. Razani et al (2009) determined that MMSE orientation and attention subscores were significantly correlated with most functional domains measured by the Direct Assessment of Functional Status (DAFS). The MMSE language items correlated with all functional tasks except the shopping and time orientation tasks, while its recall items correlated with the DAFS's time orientation and shopping tasks.…”

Mini‐Mental Status Examination as predictors of mortality in the elderly

“…in these areas were regarded as a hallmark of early AlzheimerÕs disease. Moreover, it was suggested that the summed score of orientation-to-time and attention was a valid subscale for predicting the total MMSE score (52), and these domains were the greatest and most significantly correlated with daily functioning (53). Our results showed that the domains of orientation to time and attention were significantly associated with mortality.…”

“…Moreover, it was suggested that the summed score of orientation-to-time and attention was a valid subscale for predicting the total MMSE score (52), and these domains were the greatest and most significantly correlated with daily functioning (53). Moreover, it was suggested that the summed score of orientation-to-time and attention was a valid subscale for predicting the total MMSE score (52), and these domains were the greatest and most significantly correlated with daily functioning (53).…”

Aspects of Attention Predict Real-World Task Performance in Alzheimer's Disease

“…These findings demonstrate that neuropsychological tests to some degree predict daily functioning in patients with AD, and that certain domains of neuropsychological functioning are better suited for predicting overall daily functioning than others. Findings from other studies echo these results, and extend them by identifying specific clinical measures with the greatest utility for predicting real-world functioning (Razani, et al, 2007; Mitchell & Miller, 2008; Razani, et al, 2009). A better understanding of the relationship between specific neuropsychological measures and their associated functional correlates would help clinicians better predict the ecological impairments that patients are likely to face.…”