Mini-Mental State and Cognistat performance in an older African American sample

Ninety-three normal, healthy, community-dwelling African American men and women aged 60 and older completed the Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Cognistat (formerly known as Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Examination). Results indicated significant age and education effects on MMSE and Cognistat performance. The strength of the effects was less than had been noted in earlier work. Cognistat scores were lower than those reported in the original manual for the test as well as in comparison to an older sample in another study. Explanations were offered in terms of differences in cultural and educational exposure to testing as well as inappropriateness of the norms in the original manual. Age- and education-stratified normative data are presented that should be helpful to clinicians who work with and perform cognitive assessment in this population.