A 75-year-old patient undergoes the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and scores 20 out of 30. How should the nurse interpret this score?

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AIIMS NORCET 8 Prelims Memory Based Paper 2025

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Answer 1

Correct Answer: Moderate cognitive impairment

Rationale:

The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is a widely used tool for evaluating cognitive function. It assesses areas such as orientation, memory, attention, language, and visuospatial skills, providing a score out of 30. Higher scores indicate better cognitive function.
A score of 20 out of 30 typically falls within the range of moderate cognitive impairment. This suggests that the individual has noticeable difficulties with cognitive tasks that may impact their daily life but is not yet in the severe impairment range.
Moderate cognitive impairment may manifest as significant difficulties in remembering recent events, performing complex tasks (e.g., financial management), or maintaining attention, but the patient may still retain some independence in simpler daily activities.
It is important to interpret MMSE scores in the context of the patient’s overall clinical presentation, including age, education level, and cultural factors, as these can influence the results.

Explanation of Other Options:

Normal cognitive function

Rationale: Normal cognitive function typically corresponds to an MMSE score of 24–30. Scores in this range indicate intact cognitive abilities and minimal to no observable deficits in memory, attention, or other cognitive domains. A score of 20 is below this range, ruling out normal cognitive function.

Mild cognitive impairment

Rationale: Mild cognitive impairment usually corresponds to an MMSE score of 21–23. In this range, individuals may experience subtle cognitive deficits, such as occasional forgetfulness or difficulty concentrating, but these deficits do not significantly interfere with daily life. Since the patient scored 20, this is below the threshold for mild impairment.

Severe cognitive impairment

Rationale: Severe cognitive impairment is typically associated with MMSE scores below 10–19. Individuals in this range have profound deficits in cognitive function, often requiring assistance with basic activities of daily living, such as eating, dressing, and personal hygiene. A score of 20 is above this range, ruling out severe impairment.

Conclusion:

Based on the MMSE score of 20, the patient’s cognitive function is best classified as moderate cognitive impairment. This level of impairment highlights the need for interventions to support the patient’s cognitive health and daily functioning while considering strategies to slow further cognitive decline.