A 67-year-old man on a geriatric inpatient unit is being evaluated for cognitive impairment and mild dementia. He did not complete high school. Considering this, which of the following would be the most appropriate tool for initial assessment?

Choice A reason: The MMSE is influenced by education level and may underestimate cognitive abilities in individuals with limited formal education, leading to false positives for impairment. Choice B reason: The MoCA is a sensitive tool for detecting mild cognitive impairment, but it also relies on literacy and educational background, potentially biasing results in those with low education. Choice C reason: The SLUMS is specifically designed to account for varying education levels and provides adjusted scoring for individuals without a high school diploma, making it more accurate for initial cognitive assessment in this patient. Choice D reason: The Mini-Cognition test is brief and useful in certain settings, but it is less comprehensive and may not adequately account for education-related biases, limiting its diagnostic accuracy in this patient.