Reliability of the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination in the context of a two-phase community prevalence study

Data collected through the Canadian Study of Health and Aging were analyzed to estimate the reliability of the Modified Mini-Mental State (3MS) Examination when used in the context of a two-phase community prevalence study. During the screening phase of the study, subjects were tested 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 examination, following which subjects were classified as normal, cognitively impaired but not demented, or demented. Results indicate substantial reproducibility of the 3MS, slightly higher than that of the Mini-Mental State Examination from which it is derived. The english versions of these tests appear slightly more reproducible than their French counterparts.