MNA (Mini Nutritional Assessment) is a geriatric nutrition screening tool designed to quickly identify older adults who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. It was developed specifically for people aged 65 and over and has become one of the most widely used nutrition screening instruments in hospitals, nursing homes, and community settings. Shirley Ryan AbilityLab+1

The full MNA consists of 18 items covering four domains:

• Anthropometric data (e.g. weight, BMI, weight loss)
• General assessment (lifestyle, medications, mobility, acute illness)
• Dietary assessment (food and fluid intake, feeding autonomy)
• Subjective assessment (self-perceived health and nutrition) CEConnection Nursing+1

Scores on the full MNA range from 0 to 30:

• ≥ 24 points – Normal nutritional status
• 17 to 23.5 points – At risk of malnutrition
• < 17 points – Malnourished mna-elderly.com+1

To make screening faster, a short form (MNA-SF) with 6 questions was developed. It looks at:

1. Recent food intake
2. Recent weight loss
3. Mobility
4. Psychological stress or acute illness
5. Neuropsychological problems (e.g. depression, dementia)
6. BMI or calf circumference when BMI cannot be calculated HIGN+1

The MNA-SF score ranges from 0 to 14, with:

• 12–14 points – Normal nutritional status
• 8–11 points – At risk of malnutrition
• 0–7 points – Malnourished HIGN+1

MNA (and MNA-SF) are screening tools, not diagnostic tests. An abnormal result should prompt a full nutritional assessment, review of medical conditions and medications, and appropriate dietetic referral.