Mini-Mental State Examination for telephone use in highly educated and socially active older adults: a descriptive study
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: With population aging, the growing concern about cognitive decline and dementias highlights the need for early and accessible cognitive assessment. In this context, a telephone-adapted version of the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Brazilian Telephone Version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (Braztel-MMSE), was developed. Objective: The aim of the study was to compare cognitive performance assessed by the Braztel-MMSE, administered by telephone, with the traditional Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), administered in person, in highly educated older adults without diagnosed dementia or depression, and who are socially engaged. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The initial sample consisted of 578 older adults who completed the Braztel-MMSE during the screening phase of a clinical trial. Of these, a subsample of 190 older adults completed the traditional MMSE after 18 months. Data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially to compare scores obtained from both instruments. Results: The results showed a significant correlation between scores on the Braztel-MMSE and the traditional MMSE (Spearman's rho=0.354, p<0.001). Bland-Altman analysis revealed satisfactory agreement between the two cognitive assessment methods, with a mean difference of 0.002 between scores. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the telephone-administered Braztel-MMSE shows good agreement with the traditional face-to-face MMSE. These findings suggest that the Braztel-MMSE can be a useful and valid tool for cognitive screening in contexts where in-person evaluation is not feasible, including long-term clinical trials.
Source: Dementia & Neuropsychologia
Authors: Thaís Bento Lima da Silva, Gabriela dos Santos, Tiago Nascimento Ordonez, Sabrina Aparecida da Silva, Maria Antônia Antunes Fernandes, Wellington Lourenço Oliveira, Diana dos Santos Bacelar, Laydiane Alves Costa, Ana Paula Bagli Moreira, Edna Letícia Queiroz, Gabriela Cristina Siqueira, Rosa Yuka Sato Chubaci, Henrique Salmazo da Silva, Beatriz Aparecida Ozello Gutierrez, Sonia Maria Dozzi Brucki
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4417045095