Therefore, more than orientation, attention, language and visuospatial function, tests focusing on memory and executive function could be the most sensitive for detecting early stages of MCI. Memory impairment is often the earliest symptom of AD and executive function impairments are often the earliest symptoms of FTLD and VaD. AD, Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and vascular dementia (VaD) are the major types of dementia syndromes. Although some other non-comprehensive tests, e.g., the Clock drawing test and MIS, take a short time to administer, the simple scoring and administration methods without the necessity for training, their sensitivity and specificity in detecting MCI were relatively low. We found that the tests currently used, such as MoCA and ACE-R, take more than 10 minutes. Time length and complexity are the major concerns of brief tests. At present, no one screening test used for MCI is acknowledged internationally in the way that the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is for dementia. There are differences among these tests for cognitive domain and item coverage, completion rate, administration times, diagnostic accuracy, ranging of total score and cut-off values. There are a variety of shorter or longer screening methods for MCI and mild dementia currently, such as the Seven minute neurocognitive screening battery(7MS), the Memory Impairment Screen (MIS), the clock drawing test, the cube-copying test, the DemTect, the AB Cognitive Screen (ABCS), the AD8, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Short Cognitive Performance Test, the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination Revised(ACE-R), the Memory Alteration Test, and the Memory Orientation Screening Test(MOST). Because of these large numbers and the absence of specific physiological markers, easier and earlier detection of cognitive impairment in the elderly population at minimal cost of time, resources, and expenses is increasingly important. MCI may occur in 15% of elderly patients. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), defined as a transitional zone between normal cognition and dementia, may be a target population for dementia early identification and intervention. In China, the elderly above sixty years of age account for 13.26% of the population, and aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have been significant public health problems. The MES, minimally time-consuming, may be a valid and easily administered cognitive screening tool with high sensitivity and specificity for aMCI, with single or multiple domain impairment. Meanwhile, the aMCI-md group yielded 0.95 for the AUC (95% CI, 0.93–0.97) for the MES-total score, with sensitivity of 0.87 and specificity of 0.91, and 90% correct classification rate when the cut-off was set at less than 72. There was 81% correct classification rate when the cut-off was set at less than 75. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analyses performed on the aMCI-sd group yielded 0.89 for the area under the curve (AUC) (95% CI, 0.85–0.92) for the MES-total score, with sensitivity of 0.795 and specificity of 0.828. Test completion averaged seven minutes (421.14☑68.31 seconds). ResultsĬorrelation analysis showed that the three indicators of the MES were significantly negatively related with age (P0.05). One hundred ninety seven cognitively normal controls (NC), one hundred sixteen patients with amnestic MCI –single domain (aMCI-sd), one hundred ninety five patients with amnestic MCI-multiple domain (aMCI-md), and two hundred twenty eight patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease (AD) were evaluated by comprehensive neuropsychological tests and by the Memory and Executive Screening (MES). The objective of this study was to develop a screening tool for MCI. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), defined as a transitional zone between normal cognition and dementia, requires a battery of formal neuropsychological tests administered by a trained rater for its diagnosis.