Ten-point clock test sensitivity for Alzheimer's disease in patients with MMSE scores greater than 23

The ten-point clock test is administered by tracing an 11.4 cm (4 1/2 inch) diameter circle on a piece of paper and asking the patient to 'Write the numbers in the face of a clock'. The patient is then asked to 'Make the clock say 10 minutes after 11'. The spacing of the numbers and the positions of the hands are used to score the test. A score of less than eight points identified 71% of patients with Alzheimer's disease who had a Mini-Mental State Examination score of greater than 23. The specificity measured in elderly controls was 82%. The test may prove useful in screening for early stage Alzheimer's disease.