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What is the MNA^®?
The MNA^® is a validated nutrition screening and assessment tool that can identify geriatric patients age 65 and above who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. The MNA^® was developed nearly 20 years ago and is the most well validated nutrition screening tool for the elderly. Originally compromised of 18 questions, the current MNA^® now consists of 6 questions and streamlines the screening process. The current MNA^® retains the validity and accuracy of the original MNA^® in identifying older adults who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. The revised MNA^® Short Form makes the link to intervention easier and quicker and is now the preferred from of the MNA^® for clinical use.

Why use the MNA^®?
The MNA^® is a validated tool

• Screening tool validated specifically for the elderly ⁸
• Highly sensitive, specific ⁹, and reliable ^{10, 11, 12, 13}
• Most widely used and validated screening method ¹⁴
• Recommended by national and international clinical and scientific organizations* ^{15, 16}

The MNA^® is quick and easy to use

• Quick and easy to answer 6 short questions
• Takes less than 5 minutes to complete ^{17, 18}
• Easy to administer in wide variety of settings
• Requires no special training
• Requires no blood draws or labs ¹⁹
• Widely available in 24 languages

The MNA^® is effective

• Targets the frail and elderly and at-risk geriatric population
• Identifies the malnourished so intervention can being immediately
• Identifies at-risk persons before weight loss occurs and serum protein levels fall, and facilitates earlier intervention when response is most successful ^{20, 21}
• Includes criteria specific to issues of ageing- functionality, depression, dementia ²²
• Identifies at-risk persons before other validated nutrition screening tools do ³³⁰
• Identifies those who may respond to treatment
• Not only identifies people who are at nutrition risk, but allows healthcare professionals to target intervention to specific causes of malnutrition ²³ as identified in the MNA^®
• Predicts poor outcomes in the elderly