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The Mini-Cog: receiver operating characteristics with expert and naïve raters
Scanlan J, Borson S.. International journal of geriatric psychiatry, 2001-02-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background As elderly populations grow, dementia detection in the community is increasingly needed. Existing screens are largely unused because of time and training requirements. We developed the Mini-Cog, a brief dementia screen with high sensitivity, specificity, and acceptability.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Scanlan, J., & Borson, S. (2001). The Mini-Cog: receiver operating characteristics with expert and naïve raters. International journal of geriatric psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1002/1099-1166(200102)16:2<216::aid-gps316>3.0.co;2-b
Vancouver
Scanlan J, Borson S. The Mini-Cog: receiver operating characteristics with expert and naïve raters. International journal of geriatric psychiatry. 2001. doi:10.1002/1099-1166(200102)16:2<216::aid-gps316>3.0.co;2-b. PMID: 11241728.
BibTeX
@article{scanlan2001-11241728,
author = {Scanlan, J. and Borson, S.},
title = {{The Mini-Cog: receiver operating characteristics with expert and naïve raters}},
journal = {International journal of geriatric psychiatry},
year = {2001},
doi = {10.1002/1099-1166(200102)16:2<216::aid-gps316>3.0.co;2-b},
pmid = {11241728},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/1099-1166(200102)16:2<216::aid-gps316>3.0.co;2-b}
}
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
- Existing screens are largely unused because of time and training requirements.
- We developed the Mini-Cog, a brief dementia screen with high sensitivity, specificity, and acceptability.
- Here we describe the development of its scoring algorithm, its receiver operating characteristics (ROC), and the generalizability of its clock drawing scoring system.
- Sample and methods A total of 249 multi-lingual older adults were examined.
Why it matters
This study describes the development and scoring of the Mini-Cog, a brief dementia screen, and its accuracy with expert and naïve raters. It is about a screening test, not about treating, curing or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
Study details
- Participants249
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 46/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| 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 | 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 | 2001 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 249 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| 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 161 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 6.0 citations a year over 27 year(s) since 2001 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 7 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 12 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Soo Borson: h-index 56 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | University of Washington: institution h-index 3,540 (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 11241728) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 46 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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