Mini mental Parkinson test: standardization and normative data on an Italian sample

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Parkinson's disease (PD) often involves cognitive impairments.
• The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) has limitations in detecting PD-related cognitive changes.
• The mini mental Parkinson (MMP) test was developed to address these limitations, focusing on executive functions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish normative data for the MMP test in a healthy Italian population.
• To investigate the effects of age and education on MMP performance.
• To provide tools for accurate cognitive screening in individuals with Parkinson's disease.

Main Methods:

• Collected MMP performance data from 307 healthy Italian subjects aged 40-91.
• Conducted regression analyses to assess the influence of age and education.
• Developed correction grids and equivalent scores for MMP data.

Main Results:

• Age was found to have a detrimental effect on MMP total scores.
• Higher levels of education showed an ameliorative effect on MMP performance.
• Normative data and correction tools were established based on the collected sample.

Conclusions:

• The MMP test is a sensitive tool for short-term cognitive screening in Parkinson's disease.
• Age and education are significant factors influencing MMP performance in healthy adults.
• The provided normative data and correction grids facilitate accurate interpretation of MMP results.