Comparision of the effectiveness of mini-cog test in dementia screening in the elderly people with MMSE, Q-MCI and MoCA tests: A field study

It is important to screen the common dementia along with aging population with an effective and easy test. In this field study, it is aimed to compare the success of Mini-Cog in diagnosis with the common cognitive function screening tests and to be used it in primary care if it is found effective. In this study, a total of 4 family health centers with different socio- cultural levels were identified, 115 patients, 65 years and older, who had dysmnesia were screened and the study was completed with 51 patients who met the criteria. After detailed medical history, Mini-Cog test was applied to all patients and the patients who couldn't have the full score were performed routine blood tests and other cognitive screen tests called MMSE, Qmci-TR, MoCA and their cognitive and extensive geriatric evaluation were done in Hacettepe University, Department of Internal Medicine, Geriatri Polyclinic. As a result of the evaluation, 42 of 51 patients were accepted as mild cognitive disorder and 9 patients were diagnosed with dementia according to DSM-V criteria. According to the results, the difference of total score between dementia patients and normal patients was not statistically significant (Mini- Cog (p = 0.131), MoCA (p = 0.539) and MMSE (p = 0.097)), while the difference of Qmci-TR total score was statistically significant (p = 0.027). While dementia was detected in only 6 (%22,2) of 27 patients with decompensated Mini-Cog test, dementia was detected in 3 (%12,5) of 24 patients with a normal Mini-Cog score. There was no statistically significant correlation between Mini-Cog test defect and dementia diagnosis (p = 0.363). Mini-Cog word repetition was significantly different between dementia and normal group (p = 0.010). As a result, Mini-Cog test could not be shown to be effective in dementia screening. Larger scale studies are needed to support and improve the results. Keywords: Dementia, Cognitive Screening Test, Cognitive Function, Elderly