Brain & Nervous System Alzheimer's Diagnosis Saint Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) Examination for Dementia By Andrew Rosenzweig, MD linkedin Andrew Rosenzweig, MD, MPH, is an Alzheimer's disease expert and the chief clinical officer for MedOptions. Learn about our editorial process Andrew Rosenzweig, MD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on October 01, 2019 Steven Gans, MD, is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on May 25, 2021 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Scoring Usefulness Advantages and Disadvantages Frequently Asked Questions The Saint Louis University Mental Status Examination (SLUMS) is a method of screening for Alzheimer's disease and other kinds of dementia. It was designed as an alternative screening test to the widely used Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The idea was that the MMSE is not as effective at identifying people with very early Alzheimer's symptoms. Sometimes referred to as mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild neurocognitive disorder (MNCD), these symptoms occur as people progress from normal aging to early Alzheimer's disease. Thomas Barwick / Getty Images Scoring of the SLUMS Test The SLUMS consists of 11 items, and measures aspects of cognition that include orientation, short-term memory, calculations, the naming of animals, the clock drawing test, and recognition of geometric figures. It takes approximately seven minutes to administer. Scores range from 0 to 30. SLUMS scores: Scores of 27 to 30 are considered normal in a person with a high school education. Scores between 21 and 26 suggest a mild neurocognitive disorder. Scores between 0 and 20 indicate dementia. Usefulness Saint Louis University researchers used both the SLUMS and the MMSE to test 533 men who were at least 60 years old and treated at the Geriatric Research Education Clinical Center, Veterans Administration Hospitals in St. Louis. While both tools detected dementia, only the SLUMS recognized a group of patients as having mild cognitive problems. A second study involving 58 nursing home residents compared the SLUMS' ability to detect early stages of dementia to that of the MMSE, the Short Test of Mental State (STMS), and the Test Your Memory (TYM) screen. They found that the SLUMS test was significantly better at being able to identify dementia in its early stages as compared to the other tests. Research also found that although both the SLUMS and the MMSE have a total of 30 points, the average score of the SLUMS is approximately five points lower than that of the MMSE. This supports the idea that the SLUMS is a more difficult test and thus likely to be more sensitive to mild cognitive impairment. Advantages and Disadvantages The advantages of the SLUMS include its superiority to the MMSE in identifying people with milder cognitive problems that don't yet rise to the level of dementia. In addition, it is free to use, while other tests require a fee per test. Disadvantages include the fact that the SLUMS test is not as widely used as the MMSE and it has been less researched for reliability and validity than the MMSE. Despite its value as a screening tool, the SLUMS should never be considered a substitute for a full diagnostic workup for Alzheimer's disease or be administered by anyone other than a trained medical professional. Frequently Asked Questions Who should administer the SLUMS test? The test should be given by a doctor or other qualified medical professional if cognitive impairment is suspected. Even though the test can be downloaded for free for anyone to use, a medical professional can help put the results in perspective and determine if any further tests are needed. What kinds of questions are on the SLUMS test? The test asks the participant questions including naming the day of the week, remembering a series of five words, reciting numbers backwards, and recalling details from a story. A Word From Verywell If you visit the physician for an evaluation, the SLUMS is one of the tests that might be used to measure cognitive functioning. While it might be somewhat intimidating to undergo testing, it can also be very helpful to identify a decline in thinking or memory in its earlier stages. Benefits of early detection may include identifying possible reversible causes of memory loss, possible earlier treatment, and focusing on strategies including diet and exercise that have been shown to be helpful in slowing or reducing the chance of progression to Alzheimer's. How Is Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosed? Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! When it comes to Alzheimer's, the MIND diet has shown promise in reducing risk and promoting brain health. Sign up for our Alzheimer’s and Dementia Newsletter and get your free recipe guide today. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Howland M, Tatsuoka C, Smyth KA, Sajatovic M. Detecting change over time: a comparison of the SLUMS examination and the MMSE in older adults at risk for cognitive decline. CNS Neurosci Ther. 2016;22(5):413-9. doi:10.1111/cns.12515 St. Louis University Medical School. VA SLUMS exam. Cruz-oliver DM, Malmstrom TK, Allen CM, Tumosa N, Morley JE. The Veterans Affairs Saint Louis University mental status exam (SLUMS exam) and the Mini-mental status exam as predictors of mortality and institutionalization. J Nutr Health Aging. 2012;16(7):636-41. doi:10.1007/s12603-012-0098-9 Szcześniak D, Rymaszewska J. The usfulness of the SLUMS test for diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Psychiatr Pol. 2016;50(2):457-72. doi:10.12740/PP/OnlineFirst/43141. Additional Reading Buckingham, D, Mackor, K, Miller, R, et al. Comparing the Cognitive Screening Tools: MMSE and SLUMS. Pure Insights. 2013. Vol 2, Issue 1. http://digitalcommons.wou.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1020&context=pure Szcześniak, D and Rymaszewska, J. Psychiatrica Polska. 2016;50(2):457-72. The usfulness of the SLUMS test for diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment and dementia. http://www.psychiatriapolska.pl/uploads/onlinefirst/ENGverSzczesniak_PsychiatrPolOnlineFirstNr18.pdf Tariq SH, Tumosa N, Chibnall JT, et al. Comparison of the Saint Louis University Mental Status Examination and the Mini-Mental State Examination for detecting dementia and mild neurocognitive disorder: a pilot study. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2006;14:900-910.