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Evaluation of mental functioning of individuals by a brief cognitive test before referring them for more detailed examination is a common practice in the diagnosis of DEMENTIA. Such tests are usually referred to as" screening tools". MINI-MENTAL STATE EXAMINATION (MMSE) is the most widely used SCREENING tool of DEMENTIA which has been translated and standardized in many languages and cultures. The present cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of MMSE and to provide its normative values in the elderly population of Tehran, and was implemented in two phases. In phase 1, the MMSE scores of 101 patients with DEMENTIA (Mean age= 76.3±6.6) diagnosed according to the DEMENTIA definition of 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) and staged by Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) was compared with the scores of 104 cognitively intact elderly individuals (Mean age= 71.5, SD=±7.5), all with at least 4 years of formal education. In phase 2, MMSE was implemented on 370 community dwelling elderly individuals, and the results were categorized in two age and educational groups in both sexes. Findings showed a satisfactory reliability and validity (0= 0.78) of MMSE; and in the cut point of 21 it showed 90% sensitivity and 84% specificity. There was significant correlation between MMSE scores and the age and educational level of the controls (p= 0.0001). MMSE is a valid and reliable test for using as a SCREENING tool in the elderly population of Tehran. However, data must be interpreted regarding age and …