A basic but practical test. An inquiry into the success of the Mini Mental State Examination

The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is internationally the most widely used test in medical practice to screen age-related dementia or in medical researches dealing with this topic. This paper proposes to understand this success through a historical analysis of the test and of its appropriation, especially by medical researchers, geriatricians and health authorities. It concludes that, although the MMSE is often described as a rudimentary test by involved actors, it gives rise to a "convergence of practical senses", which is to say that it fits specifically with the professional expectations of these groups regarding age-related dementia.