Interpreting Mini-Mental State Examination Performance in Highly Proficient Bilingual Spanish–English and Asian Indian–English Speakers: Demographic Adjustments, Item Analyses, and Supplemental Measures

Purpose Performance on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), among the most widely used global screens of adult cognitive status, is affected by demographic variables including age, education, and ethnicity. This study extends prior research by examining the specific effects of bilingualism on MMSE performance. Method Sixty independent community-dwelling monolingual and bilingual adults were recruited from eastern and western regions of the United States in this cross-sectional group study. Independent sample t tests were used to compare 2 bilingual groups (Spanish–English and Asian Indian–English) with matched monolingual speakers on the MMSE, demographically adjusted MMSE scores, MMSE item scores, and a nonverbal cognitive measure. Regression analyses were also performed to determine whether language proficiency predicted MMSE performance in both groups of bilingual speakers. Results Group differences were evident on the MMSE, on demographically adjusted MMSE scores, and on a small subset of individ...