Mini-Cog is a cognitive screen combining which two components?

• A. Word recall and clock drawing
• B. Spelling and arithmetic
• C. Verbal fluency and planning
• D. Visual naming and repetition

Answer: (A)

The Mini-Cog combines two tasks: a three-word recall test and a clock-drawing task. The person first tries to remember three unrelated words, then draws a clock showing a specific time, and finally is asked to recall the three words again. The word recall taps memory for new information and short-term learning, while the clock drawing evaluates visuospatial skills and executive function (planning, sequencing, and number placement). Using these two domains together makes the screen efficient at catching early cognitive changes that can occur with dementia, in a quick, primary-care friendly format. Other simple tasks like spelling, arithmetic, verbal fluency, or simple naming aren’t part of the Mini-Cog.