Home › Research › Cognitive tests and assessment
Limitations of the Mini-Mental State Examination in diagnosing dementia in general practice
Wind AW, Schellevis FG, Van Staveren G, Scholten RP, Jonker C, Van Eijk JT.. International journal of geriatric psychiatry, 1997-01-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
The aim of the study was to investigate the value of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) for use by general practitioners (GPs) in a group of elderly patients in whom the GPs are considering a dementia diagnosis. The study population consisted of 533 elderly patients (aged 65 and older) judged by 36 GPs as suffering from 'minimal to severe' dementia. Cross-sectional data were used to determine the criterion validity of separate items, a set of items and the total MMSE.
Key findings
- The study population consisted of 533 elderly patients (aged 65 and older) judged by 36 GPs as suffering from 'minimal to severe' dementia.
- Cross-sectional data were used to determine the criterion validity of separate items, a set of items and the total MMSE.
- The GMS/AGECAT diagnosis was used as an external criterion.
- MMSE items were analysed and two items testing general knowledge were added.
Why it matters
This cross-sectional study examined how well the Mini-Mental State Examination and its individual items diagnosed dementia in 533 elderly general practice patients. It is about the limitations of a diagnostic test, not about treating, curing or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Participants114
- Effect size64.9%; 64.8%; 96.4%
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 51/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 49 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 51 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (International journal of geriatric psychiatry) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry: journal h-index 190 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| 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 | 1997 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 114 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 209 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 6.7 citations a year over 31 year(s) since 1997 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 22 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 6 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | OpenAlex's profile for last-listed author JACQUES Th. M. VAN EIJK holds only 2 work(s), too few to judge a track record — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam: institution h-index 1,014 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 9050431) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 49 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 49 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 51 out of 100. |
| Total | 51 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(199701)12:1<101::aid-gps469>3.0.co;2-r
- PubMed: 9050431
- Original source →
May need a subscription OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 6 Feb 1020), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Wind, A. W., Schellevis, F. G., Van Staveren, G., Scholten, R. P., Jonker, C., & Van Eijk, J. T. (1997). Limitations of the Mini-Mental State Examination in diagnosing dementia in general practice. International journal of geriatric psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(199701)12:1<101::aid-gps469>3.0.co;2-r
Vancouver
Wind AW, Schellevis FG, Van Staveren G, Scholten RP, Jonker C, Van Eijk JT. Limitations of the Mini-Mental State Examination in diagnosing dementia in general practice. International journal of geriatric psychiatry. 1997. doi:10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(199701)12:1<101::aid-gps469>3.0.co;2-r. PMID: 9050431.
BibTeX
@article{wind1997-9050431,
author = {Wind, A. W. and Schellevis, F. G. and Van Staveren, G. and Scholten, R. P. and Jonker, C. and Van Eijk, J. T.},
title = {{Limitations of the Mini-Mental State Examination in diagnosing dementia in general practice}},
journal = {International journal of geriatric psychiatry},
year = {1997},
doi = {10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(199701)12:1<101::aid-gps469>3.0.co;2-r},
pmid = {9050431},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(199701)12:1<101::aid-gps469>3.0.co;2-r}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.
Later studies that cite this one
22 studies in the alzhub library list this one in their references. Showing the 8 highest-scoring.