Mini-Cog Cognitive Screener
Score the Mini-Cog three-minute cognitive screen: a three-word registration and delayed recall (one point per word recalled at the end) plus a clock-draw task scored as normal (2 points) or abnormal (0 points).
Open the calculator → Runs in your browser. Data leaves only if you deliberately send a problem report from the interactive tool.
Example
- Words recalled
- 2
- Clock draw is normal
- Yes
Result: Mini-Cog 4/5 - Negative for cognitive impairment screen.
The tool opens with these values already filled in. Replace them with your own.
What the result means
- 0-2
- Positive screen for cognitive impairment; further evaluation per source.
- 3-5
- Negative screen; lower likelihood of dementia (does not exclude it).
What you enter
- Words recalled (0-3)
- Clock draw is normal (2 points)
What this is
The total ranges from 0 to 5; a score of 0-2 suggests cognitive impairment that warrants more thorough evaluation, and 3-5 is broadly reassuring. Sophie Well walks through the three steps, scores the clock draw, and returns the total with the published interpretation band.
When to use it
Use this during a primary-care annual wellness visit (Medicare reimburses cognitive screening as a covered AWV element), at a geriatric pre-operative assessment, or when a patient or family raises a concern about memory and a quick triage tool is needed before referring for a full neuropsychological battery. The Mini-Cog is faster and less education-biased than the MMSE; it is a screener, not a diagnostic tool. Positive screens move the conversation forward; negative screens do not rule out early dementia.
How this is calculated
Borson S, et al. Mini-Cog. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2000;15(11):1021-1027. Read the source ↗
A reference and educational tool. Not medical, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for clinician judgment.
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