RELIABILITY OF THE MODIFIED MINI-MENTAL-STATE-EXAMINATION IN THE CONTEXT OF A 2-PHASE COMMUNITY PREVALENCE STUDY

Data collected through the Canadian Study of Health and Aging were ana lyzed to estimate the reliability of the Modified Mini-Mental Slate (3 MS) Examination when used in the context of a two-phase community prev alence study. During the screening phase of the study, subjects were t ested in their home by a lay interviewer, either in English or French. All subjects scoring 77 or under on the 3MS and a sub-sample of those scoring over 77 were reassessed by a nurse during a clinical examinat ion, following which subjects were classified as normal, cognitively i mpaired but not demented, or demented. Results indicate substantial re producibility of the 3MS, slightly higher than that of the Mini-Mental State Examination from which it is derived. The English versions of t hese tests appear slightly more reproducible than their French counter parts.