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Simple memory task
The test uses a 10-word memory task that has roots in well-known memory research.
Report details
How the MCI Screen report works.
This page explains what the MCI Screen measures, what your Memory Performance Index means, and how the report can help you have a clearer conversation with your doctor.
Important: This is not a diagnosis. Your doctor should review your health concerns and next steps.
97%published study result for MCI vs. normal aging
0–100Memory Performance Index score range
10–15 mintypical test time
Why MCI is hard to see
MCI can be hard to notice in everyday life.
Mild Cognitive Impairment, or MCI, is between normal aging and dementia. A person may still handle familiar tasks, but new information may be harder to learn or use. A structured memory test gives your doctor more than a vague concern like “my memory feels off.”
What this means for you
You do not have to wait until memory problems disrupt daily life. Your Memory Baseline gives you and your doctor something to compare over time.
- Start with your Memory Baseline.
- Save the report.
- Bring the report to your appointment.
- Ask your doctor what should happen next.
Memory Performance Index
MPI turns memory-test results into a 0–100 score.
The Memory Performance Index, or MPI, is a 0–100 score. It is adjusted for factors like age, sex, race, and education. It looks at memory patterns, not just the number of words someone remembers.
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Smarter scoring
The scoring looks for patterns that may help separate normal aging from MCI.
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Doctor-ready report
The report gives you and your doctor a clear summary to review together.
Published study highlights
Published studies reported strong results for telling MCI apart 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 read “97%”
The safe way to understand “97%.”
The careful way to say it is: published studies reported about 97% accuracy for distinguishing MCI from normal aging in the people studied. That means the science is strong, but the test still does not diagnose a disease by itself.
What you get
Your report shows your Memory Performance Index.
The sample report shows your MPI score, key memory results, and questions you can bring to your doctor. It helps the conversation. It does not replace your doctor.
Why the report helps
- Creates a dated baseline.
- Summarizes results in plain language.
- Helps you decide whether to ask about next steps.
- Gives you something concrete to bring to your doctor instead of relying on memory alone.
Sources for people who want more detail
Studies and papers behind the MCI Screen.
These are the papers and references behind the claims on this 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: How Three Screening Tools Performed in Primary Care. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. 2007;11(3):323–335.
Shankle WR, Mangrola T, Chan T, Hara J.Development 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 your Memory Baseline before your appointment.
Schedule the MCI Screen, save your report, and bring it to your doctor visit as a clearer starting point.
Important: The MCI Screen and this site are educational tools. This is general education and screening information. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease. Discuss results with a qualified healthcare professional. If you have sudden confusion, weakness, severe headache, speech changes, or other urgent symptoms, seek emergency medical care.