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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Program

Division of Oral Health Mini-Cog Pilot

From January 2023 to June 2024, the IHS Division of Oral Health (DOH) piloted the Mini-Cog dementia screening tool at dental clinics. The pilot supported early detection of dementia during routine dental visits and the integration of oral health with primary care and behavioral health services.

A total of seven IHS and tribal dental programs participated in the project across two phases. Together, they completed 151 Mini-Cog screenings, resulting in 29 referrals to primary care for follow-up care.

The pilot provided funding and training for dental staff to:

  • Use the Mini-Cog to screen for memory and thinking issues.
  • Teach patients and communities about dementia.
  • Refer individuals with early dementia symptoms for further care.

This effort is part of a larger DOH initiative to address chronic health conditions in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. These conditions include diabetes, heart disease, and depression, which can all increase the risk of dementia.

Adding memory screenings, depression screenings, and chronic disease monitoring to dental care visits helps the dental team find health issues sooner. This improves access to care and ensures more people receive the support they need.

Read the full 2024 DOH Multi-Directional Integration of Oral Health, Primary Care, and Mental Health Report [PDF 1.4 MB] .

Video: Mini-Cog© Screening Demonstration – Dental Department

This brief training video demonstrates how to do the Mini-Cog© screening in a dental setting. It features an American Indian patient and a dentist from IHC and represents their process for screening patients for early dementia detection.

Visit our Training and Education page to watch our other Mini-Cog training videos. More information can be found on the DOH website.