During a routine well-person checkup, the daughter of an older patient mentions to the nurse notices she has noticed her mother is less attentive and sometimes unable to recall events from a previous day. The daughter said this does not happen all the time, but that she has noticed it twice in the last month. Which test would be best to assess this patient's mental status?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

While both the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) assess cognition and can be completed in approximately 10 minutes by pen and paper only, the MoCA is more sensitive in detecting mild cognitive impairment and includes assessments of frontal executive function and spatial attention. The Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) is a reliable and valid test to quantify functional mobility, not cognitive ability. The Geriatric Depression Scale, short form, assesses for depression and changes in the level of depression, not mental status.

During a Routine Well-Person Checkup, the Daughter of an Older