How the Mini-Cog Is Used to Test for Alzheimer's and Dementia

The Mini-Cog is a rapid screening test for Alzheimer's disease that takes only about three minutes to administer. Unlike other popular Alzheimer's tests that measure several aspects of cognition, such as the MMSE and the MoCA, the Mini-Cog measures only two: short-term recall and clock drawing (where a person draws numbers and arms pointed at a specific time on a paper clock). Despite that, the Mini-Cog is extremely accurate at predicting whether someone has dementia. As a screening test, however, it should not substitute for a complete diagnostic workup.

The Mini-Cog was developed by Dr. Soo Borson, a physician who specializes in memory disorders.

Indian doctor talking with patient
LWA / Dann Tardif / Getty Images

Administration

Administration of the Mini-Cog is very simple. First, the person is asked to repeat three unrelated words, which tests immediate recall. Then, he is asked to do the clock drawing test. The clock drawing test assesses multiple factors, but its ability to screen for executive functioning is especially helpful in identifying dementia. Finally, the person is asked to remember the three words, testing their memory after the distracting task of drawing the clock.

Scoring

Scoring of the Mini-Cog is simple as well. A person is scored as likely to have dementia if they recall none of the three words, or if they recall one or two of the three words and draw an abnormal clock. Similarly, a person is scored as unlikely to have dementia if they recall all three words or if they recall one or two of the three words but draw a normal clock.

The official numerical scoring directions are as follows:

  • One point is given for each of the three words that are correctly recalled after performing the clock drawing test.
  • A correctly drawn clock is worth two points.

Out of five points total, a score of zero, one or two indicates a concern in cognitive functioning. If the test administrators desire to increase the test's sensitivity for spotting dementia, it's recommended that the cutoff may be increased to include a score of three as also potentially indicative of a concern.

Usefulness

Unlike the MMSE, the diagnostic value of the Mini-Cog is not influenced by education level or language abilities. Sensitivity and specificity of the Mini-Cog, key properties of every screening test, are excellent. Sensitivity refers to the test's accuracy in identifying individuals with the disease (i.e., persons with Alzheimer's test as positive). Specificity refers to the test's effectiveness in identifying people who do not have the disease (i.e., persons without the disease test as negative).

Overall Advantages and Disadvantages

The Mini-Cog's advantages are many: It is fast, simple, and superior even to the MMSE in predicting dementia. It has also been shown to be effective at identifying mild cognitive impairment, a condition that sometimes, but not always, progresses to Alzheimer's disease.

There are also different versions of the Mini-Cog which allows you to choose from several sets of three words to test recall. This can prevent repeat tests from being affected by prior administration of the test.

Unlike the MMSE which involves a fee each time the test is used, the Mini-Cog is a free test that can be used without permission for testing of individuals.

A disadvantage is that the scoring of the clock drawing test is vulnerable to different interpretations. Additionally, the Mini-Cog can't be used with persons who have visual impairments or difficulty holding or using the pen or pencil.

Finally, while the Mini-Cog is fairly effective at identifying dementia, it doesn't provide a way to measure progression or extent of dementia.

A Word From Verywell

The Mini-Cog test can be used as a short and simple screening test for dementia. While its results do not create a definitive diagnosis, it can be helpful in identifying a potential problem.

Remember that there are many reasons for memory loss, and getting a complete assessment by a physician can help identify potentially reversible causes of cognitive problems, as well as allow for earlier treatment if dementia is present.

4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Seitz DP, Chan CC, Newton HT, et al. Mini-Cog for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease dementia and other dementias within a primary care setting. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;2:CD011415. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD011415.pub2

  2. Mini-Cog. About Mini-Cog.

  3. Mini-Cog. Screening for Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults.

  4. Li X, Dai J, Zhao S, Liu W, Li H. Comparison of the value of Mini-Cog and MMSE screening in the rapid identification of Chinese outpatients with mild cognitive impairment. Medicine (Baltimore). 2018;97(22):e10966. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000010966

Additional Reading

By Andrew Rosenzweig, MD
Andrew Rosenzweig, MD, MPH, is an Alzheimer's disease expert and the chief clinical officer for MedOptions.