Home / Tools / SLUMS scoring aid

For trained staff and clinicians

SLUMS scoring aid

The Saint Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) exam is a 30-point memory and thinking test given in person. Give the test on the official paper form, then use this page to add up the scores and print a summary for the person’s doctor.

Not a diagnosis. This page does not give the test and cannot diagnose dementia — it only adds up the item scores you enter. Only a doctor can diagnose dementia, after a full history, examination and other tests. Use the official SLUMS form and follow the administration instructions. This page is not meant for people to test themselves or a relative at home. Nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere; it disappears when you close the page.

Education

Item 4 (the five objects to remember) is not scored by itself; it is scored at item 7. Item 8 has a practice item that is not scored.

Good practice

  • Check hearing aids and glasses first, and test in a quiet room.
  • For people who are not fluent in English, use a trained interpreter. The SLUMS was developed and tested in English-speaking US veterans, so scores may be less accurate in other groups.
  • Low scores can come from delirium, depression, medicines, poor sleep or low education, not only dementia.
  • Repeat testing on the same form can be affected by practice.

About the SLUMS

The SLUMS was developed at Saint Louis University and is in the public domain. Cut-offs differ by education level, as shown on the official form. Source: Tariq SH, Tumosa N, Chibnall JT, Perry HM 3rd, Morley JE. Comparison of the Saint Louis University Mental Status examination and the Mini-Mental State Examination for detecting dementia and mild neurocognitive disorder — a pilot study. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2006;14(11):900–910.

Worried about a family member’s memory? Start with the Memory Changes Notebook and read memory and thinking tests.