Mini-Mental Status-Test (MMST) Overview

Vocabulary practice cards covering the procedures, scoring, and specific tasks included in the Mini-Mental Status-Test (MMST).

Mini-Mental Status-Test (MMST)

A simple questionnaire used to estimate the cognitive abilities of an older person, typically taking approximately 10 minutes to complete.

MMST Assessment Areas

The test measures orientation, memory (registration), attention and calculation, language, and constructive praxis.

MMST Interpretation

The final score is determined by a simple addition of the points awarded for each task.

Orientation (Orientierung) Questions

Tasks requiring the patient to identify the current year, season, date, month, state, country, town, specific location (e.g., nursing home), and floor level.

Registration (Merkfähigkeit) Task

The examiner names three objects (Zitrone, Schlüssel, Ball) at a rate of 1 per second; the patient receives 1 point per word correctly repeated on the first try, with a maximum of 5 attempts allowed for learning.

Attention and Calculation (Aufmerksamkeit und Rechnen)

The patient must count backwards from 100 in steps of 7 (93, 86, 79, 72, 65) or spell the word 'Preis' backwards; only the higher of the two scores is counted.

Recall (Erinnern)

A task where the patient is asked to remember the three previously learned words (Zitrone, Schlüssel, Ball), awarding up to 3 points.

Naming (Benennen)

An assessment where the patient must correctly identify a wristwatch (Armbanduhr) and a pencil (Bleistift) shown by the examiner.

Repetition (Wiederholen)

The patient is asked to repeat the specific phrase 'Kein Wenn und Aber' with only one attempt allowed.

Three-stage Command (Dreiteiliger Befehl)

A 3-point task involving taking a sheet of paper, folding it in the middle, and placing it on the floor.

Reaction/Reading Task

The patient must read the written instruction 'Schließen Sie die Augen' (Close your eyes) and perform the action.

Writing (Schreiben) Criteria

The patient must spontaneously write a sentence containing a subject and a verb that makes sense; specific grammar and punctuation are not required.

Copying (Abzeichnen) Criteria

The patient must draw two intersecting pentagons; to receive a point, all 10 corners must be present and 2 of the pentagons must overlap.