Mini-Mental state examination [MMSE] scores in healthy educated adult Jordanian population

ABSTRACT

The Mini-Mental Status Examination [MMSE] is a simple informative and validated screening test of cognitive functions. No data from MMSE scores in healthy populations has been published about educated Jordanians. To study the MMSE scores in the healthy educated Jordanian population. 150 healthy educated adult Jordanians were interviewed and tested for their MMSE score. Their scores were analyzed and the effect of age, sex and education on the score was studied. 150 adult subjects aged 35 +/- 12.5 years [range 18-71 years] with a mean level of education 14.2 +/- 2.6 years [range 7-20 years] scored 27.8 +/- 2.2 / 30 [range 21-30]. No correlation was found between age and MMSE score [Pearson correlation =-0.08, p=0.32], while there was direct correlation with education level [Pearson 0.53, p=0.000]. There were 77 [51.3%] males and 73 [48.7%] females who scored 27.7 +/- 2.4 and 27.8 +/- 2.1 respectively [p=0.942 ANOVA]. There was also no correlation with age at a cutoff of 45 years [p=0.203] while people with higher education [> 12 years, n=105] scored better than those with basic education [7-12 years, n=45], 28.4 +/- 1.8 and 26.3 +/- 2.5, respectively [p=0.000]. Local MMSE scores for healthy educated adult Jordanians are presented here that can be of help to the practicing physician assessing patients' cognitive functions. The local data confirmed previous associations with education but not with age as this series consists mostly of those from the young adult population. We suggest a lower normal score of 21 for those with basic education and a score of 24 for those with higher education