Saint Louis University Mental Status Exam
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| Saint Louis University Mental Status Exam | |
|---|---|
| Purpose | detect mild cognitive impairment(veterans) |
The Saint Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) Exam is a brief screening assessment used to detect cognitive impairment.[1] It was developed in 2006 at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine Division of Geriatric Medicine, in affiliation with a Veterans' Affairs medical center.[2] The test was initially developed using a veteran population, but has since been adopted as a screening tool for any individual displaying signs of mild cognitive impairment. The intended population typically consists of individuals 60 years and above that display any signs of cognitive deficit.[3] Unlike other widely-used cognitive screens, such as the Mini-Mental State Examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment, the SLUMS is free to access and use by all healthcare professionals.[4]
The SLUMS includes 11 questions and is scored on a scale of 1-30.[5] The SLUMS exam requires the individual being tested to perform various tasks,[3] including the following:
- Attention tasks
- Arithmetic calculations
- Memory tasks involving immediate and delayed recall
- Naming animals
- Digit span
- Drawing a clock
- Recognizing shapes and sizes
- Recalling details from a story
The SLUMS exam tests several cognitive domains,[4] as listed below:
- Verbal memory (13 points)
- Attention/concentration (5 points)
- Visuospatial/constructional abilities (5 points)
- Language skills (4 points)
- Orientation (3 points)
Scoring
The SLUMS is scored on a scale of 1 to 30, with higher scores being associated with greater functional ability, and lower scores associated with greater cognitive impairment.[5] Scoring is dependent on an individual's education level, with higher scores expected for individuals who have received a high school education.[3]
For individuals with a high school education:
- A score of 27–30 would be expected for someone with normal cognition
- A score of 21–26 would be expected for someone with mild neurocognitive disorder
- A score of 1–20 would be expected for someone with dementia
For individuals with less than high school education:
- A score of 25–30 would be expected for someone with normal cognition
- A score of 20–24 would be expected for someone with mild neurocognitive disorder
- A score of 1–19 would be expected for someone with dementia