[The clock test: a simple method to assess dementia].

AIM: to validate an easy and simple test to measure cognitive function: the clock drawing test. STUDY DESIGN: 138 hospitalized and free living elders (96 female, mean age 77.9 years) were studied. They were requested to draw a clock, using standardized instructions. The drawings were independently analyzed and scored by the authors. The Mini Mental State test was used as reference and the scores of both tests were correlated. RESULTS: there was a correlation of 0.73 between the scores of the clock drawing and Mini Mental State tests. Using a score of 7 points in tye clock drawing and 26 points in the Mini Mental State test as cut of points for the diagnosis of dementia, the former's sensitivity and specificity was 0.82 and 0.71 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: the clock drawing test appears as a simple and effective test for the initial assessment of cognitive functions in patients with suspected dementia.