A 54-year-old male patient admitted with memory impairment. His Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ranges from 10 - 18 points, which indicates he has:

Appeared in: BHU NO - 12 April 2024

Explanation

The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is a 30-point questionnaire used to screen for and track the severity of cognitive impairment.
A score in the range of 10-18 points falls into the category of moderate cognitive impairment.
This level of impairment indicates that the patient has significant cognitive deficits that affect their ability to perform daily activities and require a structured support system.
The score range provided in the question (10-18) aligns with the established classification for moderate impairment (typically 10-20 or 11-19).

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option B: This level of impairment is associated with MMSE scores of 9 or below, indicating a much more profound cognitive decline than the patient's score suggests.
Option C: This level of impairment corresponds to a higher MMSE score range, typically 21-24. It represents an early stage of cognitive decline that is noticeable but may not significantly impact daily independence.
Option D: This indicates no cognitive impairment and is associated with the highest scores on the MMSE, typically 25-30. The patient's score is well below this range.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Interpretation of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) Scores to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Nurses use the MMSE as a standardized tool to obtain a baseline of a patient's cognitive function, monitor for changes over time (improvement or decline), and assess the effectiveness of treatments.
The MMSE score is crucial for care planning. A patient with moderate impairment requires significant safety considerations, such as supervision during medication administration, prevention of falls, and assistance with complex tasks like managing finances.
The score provides objective data that facilitates clear communication about the patient's cognitive status among the entire healthcare team, including doctors, therapists, and social workers.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the key clinical assessment tool mentioned in the question: the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).
Note the specific score provided: a range of 10-18 points.
Recall the standard interpretation of MMSE scores, which categorizes them into levels of cognitive impairment.
Compare the given score (10-18) to the established ranges: Normal (25-30), Mild (21-24), Moderate (10-20), and Severe (below 10).
Determine that the 10-18 range falls squarely into the 'Moderate' category.
Select the option that correctly identifies this level of impairment.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Interpretation of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) Scores
Stem keywords: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), score 10-18, memory impairment
Lead-in keywords: indicates he has
Clinical cues: Patient age: 54-year-old male
Clinical cues: Presenting complaint: memory impairment

Question ID

QiEDAv1UXClZT5y4z1tI6Q

Reference Book

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) pp. 3624-3626, 13423-13425

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 3 p. 122-124

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