This calculator is for general information and education. It is not medical advice and does not replace the judgment of a doctor, nurse or pharmacist who knows the full clinical picture.
A screen that fits in three minutes
Dementia often goes unrecognized in primary care because the full tests take time. The Mini-Cog, developed by Soo Borson and colleagues in 2000, combines two simple tasks: remembering three words and drawing a clock. It takes about three minutes, needs only a pen and paper, and is less affected by education and language than longer tests.
How to give it
- Three words: say three unrelated words, such as banana, sunrise and chair, and ask the person to repeat them.
- Clock drawing: ask them to draw a clock, put in all the numbers and set the hands to ten past eleven. Allow up to three minutes.
- Recall: ask for the three words again, without hints.
Scoring
- Word recall: 1 point for each word recalled without cues, 0 to 3
- Clock: 2 points if all numbers are present in the correct order and position and the hands point to the 11 and the 2; 0 points if not, or if the person refuses
- Total: 0 to 5
Example
A 78-year-old recalls two of the three words and draws a normal clock: 2 + 2 = 4 out of 5, a negative screen.
Had they recalled no words, the score would be 2, a positive screen, even with a normal clock.
Interpretation
- 3 to 5: negative screen for dementia. Some clinicians use 4 as the cut-off, which picks up more cases at the cost of more false alarms.
- 0 to 2: positive screen. Further assessment is recommended.
A positive result is not a diagnosis. Delirium, depression, poor vision or hearing, low literacy, anxiety and a language barrier can all lower the score, while some people with early dementia score normally. A full evaluation usually includes a longer cognitive test such as the MoCA or MMSE, a history from a relative, a review of medications and blood tests for treatable causes such as vitamin B12 deficiency or thyroid problems.
Why screening matters
Finding cognitive impairment early allows treatable causes to be corrected, safety at home and driving to be reviewed, and plans to be made while the person can take part in decisions.