Mini-Cog

The Mini-Cog takes three minutes and needs only paper and a pen. A person is asked to remember three unrelated words, then asked to draw a clock face with all the numbers and the hands set to a given time, then asked to say the three words back.

The clock is not filler. It occupies the person's attention during the delay, and it also tests planning and visuospatial ability on its own. Scoring is simple: one point per word recalled, two points for a normal clock, for a total out of 5. A total of 0, 1, or 2 indicates higher likelihood of clinically important cognitive impairment. It screens; it does not diagnose.

Licensing Notes: It is reprinted with permission of the author solely for clinical and educational purposes, free of charge.

Learn More: The validated dementia screening cut point is below 3, but a score of 3, 4, or 5 indicates lower likelihood of dementia without ruling out cognitive impairment.