What is the average score on a mini-mental status exam?

The average score on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is typically reported to be around 27. This cognitive assessment tool is widely used to evaluate a person's cognitive function, particularly in a clinical context for conditions such as dementia. The MMSE consists of various tasks that assess different aspects of cognitive ability, including orientation, attention, memory, language, and visual-spatial skills.

Scores on the MMSE can range from 0 to 30, where higher scores indicate better cognitive function. While the average score can vary somewhat based on the population being assessed (such as differences in educational background or age), a score of 27 is often quoted as the average across various studies and populations. This helps clinicians gauge cognitive health and identify possible impairments more accurately.