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Structured memory task
MCIS is based on a 10-word recall test connected to CERAD and ADAS-Cog research traditions.
Deeper science for clinicians, care teams, and informed families
The science behind the MCI Screen.
The home page keeps things simple for patients. This deeper dive explains why the MCI Screen exists, what the Memory Performance Index measures, and how the resulting report can give a physician a clearer baseline for discussion.
Important: Screening results are not a diagnosis and are not a substitute for evaluation by a qualified healthcare professional.
97%published accuracy for MCI vs. normal in PNAS abstract summary
0–100Memory Performance Index scale described in validation work
10–15 minpractical administration range referenced in report materials
Why MCI is hard to see
MCI can be subtle enough to miss in normal conversation.
Mild Cognitive Impairment sits between normal aging and dementia. The white paper notes that people with MCI may still perform familiar tasks normally, but may have trouble incorporating and applying new information. That is why a structured cognitive screen can be useful before a visit: it gives the clinician more than a vague memory concern.
Patient-facing takeaway
Do not wait until memory concerns become disruptive. A baseline can help you and your doctor compare today with future changes and decide whether additional evaluation is appropriate.
- Use the site to start a baseline.
- Save the report.
- Bring the report to the appointment.
- Let the clinician decide what comes next.
Memory Performance Index
MPI turns recall patterns into a 0–100 cognitive performance score.
The MCI Screen white paper describes the Memory Performance Index as a 0–100 scale, adjusted for age, gender, race, and education, derived from the pattern of recalled and non-recalled words. The point is not simply “how many words did someone remember?” It is the pattern of memory performance compared against validated expectations.
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Advanced scoring
Published materials describe correspondence-analysis scoring that improves separation between normal aging and MCI patterns.
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Clinician-ready output
The report format gives a practical summary that can support a focused doctor-patient conversation.
Published validation highlights
The validation abstract packet reports strong performance distinguishing MCI from normal aging:
- PNAS 2005: 97% accuracy for MCI vs. normal; sensitivity 94%; specificity 89%.
- Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease 2007: in a primary care cohort, MCIS overall accuracy 96%, sensitivity 94%, specificity 97%, outperforming MMSE and Clock Drawing in the summarized comparison.
- Japanese MCIS study: reported 97.3% accuracy differentiating normal aging from MCI and 99% accuracy differentiating normal aging from mild dementia.
How to say “97%” responsibly
Use “published validation reported…” not “this diagnoses.”
The strongest compliant phrase is: published validation studies reported approximately 97% accuracy for distinguishing MCI from normal aging in studied populations. That keeps the science meaningful while avoiding the claim that a screening result itself diagnoses a disease.
What patients get
A report to bring into the visit.
The sample report shows how screening output can be organized into a format a patient can save, print, or discuss with a physician. It is meant to improve the quality of the conversation, not replace clinical judgment.
Report value
- Creates a dated baseline.
- Summarizes screening findings in plain language.
- Helps identify whether an objective MCI Screen conversation is warranted.
- Gives patients something concrete to bring to their physician instead of relying on memory alone.
References used for this page
Supporting white papers and peer-reviewed references.
This page summarizes the provided MCI Screen white papers and sample report. It is written for readers who want more detail than the patient home page.
Shankle WR, Romney AK, Hara J, et al.Methods to Improve the Detection of Mild Cognitive Impairment. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2005;102(13):4919–4924.
Trenkle DL, Shankle WR, Azen SP.Detecting Cognitive Impairment in Primary Care: Performance Assessment of Three Screening Instruments. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. 2007;11(3):323–335.
Shankle WR, Mangrola T, Chan T, Hara J.Development and Validation of the Memory Performance Index: Reducing Measurement Error in Recall Tests. Alzheimer’s & Dementia. 2009;5(4):295–306.
Rafii M, Taylor C, Coutinho A, Kim K, Galasko D.Comparison of the Memory Performance Index with Standard Neuropsychological Measures of Cognition. American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias. 2011;26(3):235–239.
Cho A, Sugimura M, Nakano S, Yamada T.The Japanese MCI Screen for Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders. American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias. 2008;23(2):162–166.
Next step
Get a baseline before the appointment.
Schedule the MCI Screen, save the report, and bring it to a physician visit as a clearer starting point for discussion.
Important: The MCI Screen and related materials are screening-oriented educational tools. They are not medical advice and are not a substitute for evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment by a qualified healthcare professional.