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    Cognition · 10 items · 0–30 · Tariq SH, Tumosa N, Chibnall JT, Perry MH III, Morley JE (2006). Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 14(11):900-910.

    Saint Louis University Mental Status examination: Scoring, Cutoffs & Interpretation

    Eleven-task clinician-administered screen for mild neurocognitive disorder and dementia.

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    SLUMS0 / 10

    The SLUMS is administered by a clinician using the printed form (available free from Saint Louis University). Use this calculator to score a completed administration - it is not a self-test. Record the patient's level of education before scoring, since the interpretation bands differ for high-school and less-than-high-school education.

    01

    Orientation

    "What day of the week is it?"

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    02

    Orientation

    "What is the year?"

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    03

    Orientation

    "What state are we in?"

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    04

    Maths / money

    "You have $100 and you go to the store and buy a dozen apples for $3 and a tricycle for $20." Then ask: "How much did you spend?" (1 point) and "How much do you have left?" (2 points).

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    05

    Animal fluency

    "Please name as many animals as you can in one minute."

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    06

    Delayed recall

    Earlier in the administration you said "Please remember these five objects. I will ask you what they are later: apple, pen, tie, house, car." Now ask: "What were the five objects I asked you to remember?" Score one point per object recalled.

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    07

    Digit span backward

    "I am going to give you a series of numbers and I would like you to give them to me backwards. For example, if I say 42, you would say 24." 87 scores no points; 648 scores 1 point; 8537 scores 1 point.

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    08

    Clock drawing

    "This is a clock face. Please put in the hour markers and the time at ten minutes to eleven o'clock." Hour markers correct scores 2 points; time correct scores 2 points.

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    09

    Figures (uses the printed figures on the form)

    "Please place an X in the triangle" (1 point) and "Which of the above figures is largest?" (1 point).

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    10

    Story recall

    Read the Jill story from the printed form, then ask - What was the female's name? (2 points) What work did she do? (2 points) When did she go back to work? (2 points) What state did she live in? (2 points).

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    0 of 10 answered0 / 30

    02 - The clinician's brief

    Last reviewed: · Reviewed by Lotte Kjær Svalberg

    01 - Scoring & cutoffs

    How scoring works.

    Score
    Severity
    Interpretation
    0–20
    Dementia
    In the dementia range for a patient with high-school education (1-19 for less than high-school education). Requires full diagnostic assessment, not a diagnosis in itself.
    21–26
    Mild neurocognitive disorder
    Suggests mild neurocognitive disorder in a patient with high-school education (20-24 for less than high-school education). Screening guidance only - proceed to fuller cognitive assessment.
    27–30
    Normal
    Normal cognition for a patient with high-school education. For less than high-school education, normal begins at 25.

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