Table 1.

Characteristics of Ideal Cognitive Screening Tools for Primary Care Clinics

Administration time <10 minutes

Minimal training required to administer, score, and interpret

Minimally affected by factors unrelated to cognitive impairment (eg, sex, education, language, culture)

Acceptable to older adults

Sensitivity and specificity ≥80%

Sensitive to mild stages of cognitive impairment

Assesses both memory and executive function, the domains frequently affected in the most common causes of dementia