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Saint Louis University Mental Status Exam

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Saint Louis University Mental Status Exam
Purposedetect 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]

Format

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The SLUMS exam requires an individual to draw a clock

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:

The SLUMS exam tests several cognitive domains,[4] as listed below:

Scoring

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The SLUMS is scored on a scale of 1-30, 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:

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

Efficacy

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While there is relatively little research on the reliability and validity of the SLUMS exam, available studies suggest that it exhibits high sensitivity (greater than 95%) and specificity (greater than 95%) in differentiating between individuals with normal cognition from those with dementia.[3] However, the SLUMS has been to found to be less effective at differentiating between normal individuals from those with mild cognitive impairment.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Cordell, Cyndy B.; Borson, Soo; Boustani, Malaz; Chodosh, Joshua; Reuben, David; Verghese, Joe; Thies, William; Fried, Leslie B.; Medicare Detection of Cognitive Impairment Workgroup (March 2013). "Alzheimer's Association recommendations for operationalizing the detection of cognitive impairment during the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit in a primary care setting". Alzheimer's & Dementia. 9 (2): 141–150. doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2012.09.011. ISSN 1552-5260. PMID 23265826.
  2. ^ Tariq, Syed H.; Tumosa, Nina; Chibnall, John T.; Perry, Mitchell H.; Morley, John E. (November 2006). "Comparison of the Saint Louis University Mental Status Examination and the Mini-Mental State Examination for Detecting Dementia and Mild Neurocognitive Disorder—A Pilot Study". The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 14 (11): 900–910. doi:10.1097/01.JGP.0000221510.33817.86. PMID 17068312.
  3. ^ a b c d Kansagara, Devan; Freeman, Michele (2010). A Systematic Evidence Review of the Signs and Symptoms of Dementia and Brief Cognitive Tests Available in VA. VA Evidence-based Synthesis Program Reports. Washington (DC): Department of Veterans Affairs (US). PMID 21155200.
  4. ^ a b c Spencer, Robert J.; Noyes, Emily T.; Bair, Jessica L.; Ransom, Michael T. (2022-05-27). "Systematic Review of the Psychometric Properties of the Saint Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) Examination". Clinical Gerontologist. 45 (3): 454–466. doi:10.1080/07317115.2022.2032523. ISSN 0731-7115. PMID 35107414. S2CID 246473619.
  5. ^ a b St. Louis University (2006). "VAMC SLUMS Examination" (PDF). St. Louis University. Retrieved 2023-11-29.