[Polynesian adaptation of the Mini-Mental State Examination]

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychometrics
• Gerontology

Background:

• Cognitive assessment tools require cultural adaptation for diverse populations.
• The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is widely used but may have limitations in non-Western contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a Polynesian version of the MMSE (P-MMSE).
• To establish culturally appropriate cognitive assessment methods for French Polynesia.

Main Methods:

• Adaptation of the French MMSE for Polynesian cultural context.
• Validation using healthy participants (n=112, n=112, and n=46) and Alzheimer disease patients (n=17).
• Analysis of age and educational level effects on cognitive scores.

Main Results:

• Significant dissociation observed between the French and Polynesian MMSE versions.
• Age (r=-0.45) and educational level (r=-0.25) significantly impacted global performance.
• Defined new cut-off scores with improved sensitivity and specificity.
• A general cut-off score (≤23) achieved 82% sensitivity and 75% specificity for Alzheimer disease detection.

Conclusions:

• The Polynesian MMSE (P-MMSE) is a valid and reliable tool for cognitive screening in Polynesian populations.
• Culturally adapted cognitive assessments are crucial for accurate diagnosis.
• The P-MMSE aids in early detection of Alzheimer disease within its target demographic.