Chapter 27 - The quick mild cognitive impairment screen and applications to dementia

Abstract

Assessment of cognitive impairment is a common requirement in clinical practice, especially in geriatric medicine. The use of valid, reliable, and brief tests of cognitive function is vital in determining the need for further investigations of symptomatic patients. Such tests are also important in population screening, albeit the benefits of this are yet unproven. A number of brief cognitive screening instruments are used in clinical practice but none meets all the requirements across the spectrum of clinical practice, able to separate subjective deficits from mild cognitive impairment and dementia across all subtypes. The Quick Mild Cognitive Impairment (Qmci) screen has been validated in multiple clinical settings and countries. It has similar accuracy compared with the commonly used Montreal Cognitive Assessment and is more accurate than the Mini-Mental State Examination in differentiating those with normal cognitive function and cognitive impairment. The short time requirement for administering the Qmci screen makes it suitable for doctors in busy clinical practice.