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Ethnic and educational differences in cognitive test performance on mini-mental state examination in Asians
Ng TP, Niti M, Chiam PC, Kua EH.. The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, 2007-02-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Objective The objective of this study is to examine ethnic differences in Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) test performance in discriminating between demented and nondemented elderly Asians. Methods A nationally representative population sample (N = 1,092) of community-living elderly, comprising Chinese, Malays, and Indians in Singapore, was interviewed using MMSE, Geriatric Mental State, and demographic and health questionnaires. Results There were significant ethnic differences in mean MMSE scores among Chinese (26.2), Indians (25.0), and Malays (23.6), but only in noneducated subjects.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Ng, T. P., Niti, M., Chiam, P. C., & Kua, E. H. (2007). Ethnic and educational differences in cognitive test performance on mini-mental state examination in Asians. The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.jgp.0000235710.17450.9a
Vancouver
Ng TP, Niti M, Chiam PC, Kua EH. Ethnic and educational differences in cognitive test performance on mini-mental state examination in Asians. The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. 2007. doi:10.1097/01.jgp.0000235710.17450.9a. PMID: 17272733.
BibTeX
@article{ng2007-17272733,
author = {Ng, T. P. and Niti, M. and Chiam, P. C. and Kua, E. H.},
title = {{Ethnic and educational differences in cognitive test performance on mini-mental state examination in Asians}},
journal = {The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry},
year = {2007},
doi = {10.1097/01.jgp.0000235710.17450.9a},
pmid = {17272733},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1097/01.jgp.0000235710.17450.9a}
}
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Key findings
- Methods A nationally representative population sample (N = 1,092) of community-living elderly, comprising Chinese, Malays, and Indians in Singapore, was interviewed using MMSE, Geriatric Mental State, and demographic and health questionnaires.
- Results There were significant ethnic differences in mean MMSE scores among Chinese (26.2), Indians (25.0), and Malays (23.6), but only in noneducated subjects.
- No ethnic differences in MMSE were observed in higher educated subjects.
- The sample proportion of subjects with dementia was 4.2% in Chinese, 9.4% in Malays, and 8.8% in Indians.
Why it matters
This study of 1092 community-living elderly Chinese, Malay, and Indian people in Singapore found ethnic differences in Mini-Mental State Examination scores only among those with no education. It shows that ethnicity and education affect test scores and does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention.
Study details
- Participants1,092
- Effect size4.2%; 9.4%; 8.8%
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 51/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry: journal h-index 178 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2007 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 1,092 participants |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 197 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 9.4 citations a year over 21 year(s) since 2007 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 6.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 6 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 13 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Ee Heok Kua: h-index 55 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | National University of Singapore: institution h-index 1,166 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 17272733) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 51 / 100 | — |
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