Validation of a short Orientation-Memory-Concentration Test of cognitive impairment.

A 6-item Orientation-Memory-Concentration Test has been validated as a measure of cognitive impairment. This test predicted the scores on a validated 26-item mental status questionnaire of two patient groups in a skilled nursing home, patients in a health-related facility, and in a senior citizens' center. There was a positive correlation between scores on the 6-item test and plaque counts obtained from the cerebral cortex of 38 subjects at autopsy. This test, which is easily administered by a nonphysician, has been shown to discriminate among mild, moderate, and severe cognitive deficits.