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The death knoll for the MMSE: has it outlived its purpose?
Nieuwenhuis-Mark RE.. Journal of geriatric psychiatry and neurology, 2010-03-15
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is arguably the best-known cognitive screen in the world. Originally designed to assess cognitive impairment in elderly populations, it has become one of the first steps toward a dementia diagnosis. Routinely used in the clinic and in research internationally, the MMSE, despite its flaws, has managed to retain its popularity for more than 30 years.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Nieuwenhuis-Mark, R. E. (2010). The death knoll for the MMSE: has it outlived its purpose? Journal of geriatric psychiatry and neurology. https://doi.org/10.1177/0891988710363714
Vancouver
Nieuwenhuis-Mark RE. The death knoll for the MMSE: has it outlived its purpose? Journal of geriatric psychiatry and neurology. 2010. doi:10.1177/0891988710363714. PMID: 20231732.
BibTeX
@article{nieuwenhuismark2010-20231732,
author = {Nieuwenhuis-Mark, R. E.},
title = {{The death knoll for the MMSE: has it outlived its purpose?}},
journal = {Journal of geriatric psychiatry and neurology},
year = {2010},
doi = {10.1177/0891988710363714},
pmid = {20231732},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/0891988710363714}
}
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.
Key findings
- Originally designed to assess cognitive impairment in elderly populations, it has become one of the first steps toward a dementia diagnosis.
- Routinely used in the clinic and in research internationally, the MMSE, despite its flaws, has managed to retain its popularity for more than 30 years.
- This review explores when and how the test is used, lists its advantages and disadvantages, and ultimately questions its value.
- The specific issue that is addressed here is whether the test has outlived its original purpose.
Why it matters
This review discusses when and how the MMSE is used, lists its advantages and disadvantages, and questions whether the test has outlived its purpose. It concerns a cognitive screening test and does not address treating, curing or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 39/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of geriatric psychiatry and neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology: journal h-index 105 (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 | 2010 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 165 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 9.2 citations a year over 18 year(s) since 2010 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 8 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 29 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Ruth E. Mark: h-index 25 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Tilburg University: institution h-index 481 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 20231732) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 39 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1177/0891988710363714
- PubMed: 20231732
- Original source →
- Free full text: Research portal (Tilburg University) →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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