Abstract

SOTO-ANARI, Marcio  and  BELON-HERCILLA, María V. Sensibility and specificity indicators for two cut-off points of the Mini Mental State Examination: A preliminary study. Rev Neuropsiquiatr [online]. 2017, vol.80, n.2, pp.88-93. ISSN 0034-8597.  http://dx.doi.org/10.20453/rnp.v80i2.3089.

Objectives: To compare the sensitivity and specificity indicators for two cutoff points according to adaptations of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) made in Perú. Methods: First stage prospective validation study. A sample of 656 adults, 55 years or older and from both genders, members of elderly clubs and of the Peruvian Association of Alzheimer’s Disease in Arequipa, were evaluatedbetween 2015 and 2016. The adapted version of the MMSE was used and data on the participants’ functional level was collected. Results: The higher level of sensitivity and specificity was of 20 as a cutoff point for the group between 0 and 3 years of schooling;this indicator decreased as the schooling level advanced. Conclusions: The MMSE shows better sensitivity and specificity indicators when the score is adjusted in accordance to school years. However, it is necessary to deepen the analysis and follow-up of the cases, as well as to consider more extensive and complex assessments of eventual levels of cognitive impairment.

Keywords : Indicators; sensitivity; specificity; aging; screening; educational status.

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