MINI-COG ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENT FOR DEMENTIA
The Mini-Cog assessment instrument combines an uncued 3-item recall test
with a clock-drawing test (CDT) that serves as a recall distractor. The Mini-
Cog can be administered in about 3 min, requires no special equipment, and
is relatively uninfluenced by level of education or language differences.
Administration
The test is administered as follows:
1. Make sure you have the patient's attention. Instruct the patient to listen
carefully to and remember 3 unrelated words and then to repeat the words
back to you (to be sure the patient heard them).
2. Instruct the patient to draw the face of a clock, either on a blank sheet of
paper, or on a sheet with the clock circle already drawn on the page. After
the patient puts the numbers on the clock face, ask him or her to draw the
hands of the clock to read a specific time (11:10 and 8:20 are most
commonly used and more sensitive than some others). These instructions
can be repeated, but no additional instructions should be given. If the patient
cannot complete the CDT in ≤3 min, move on to the next step.
3. Ask the patient to repeat the 3 previously presented words.
Scoring
Give 1 point for each recalled word after the CDT distractor. Score 0–3 for
recall.
Give 2 points for a normal CDT, and 0 points for an abnormal CDT. The
CDT is considered normal if all numbers are depicted, once each, in the
correct sequence and position, and the hands readably display the requested
time. Add the recall and CDT scores together to get the Mini-Cog Score:
• 0–2 indicates positive screen for dementia.
• 3–5 indicates negative screen for dementia.
Source: Adapted from Borson S, Scanlan J, Brush M, Vitaliano P, Dokmak
A. The Mini-Cog: a cognitive “vital signs” measure for dementia screening
in multi-lingual elderly. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2000; 15(11):1021–1027,
and Borson S, Scanlan JM, Watanabe J, Tu SP, Lessig M. Improving
identification of cognitive impairment in primary care. Int J Geriatr