MNA Nutrition Elderly

Complete the 18-question Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) to screen for malnutrition risk in elderly adults.

Use the MNA Nutrition Elderly

Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA)

Answer all 18 questions. Select the option that best describes the patient's current condition.

Part 1 — Food Intake & Weight Loss
1. Has food intake declined over the past 3 months due to loss of appetite, digestive problems, or chewing/swallowing difficulties?
2. Weight loss during the last 3 months:
3. Mobility:
4. Has the patient suffered psychological stress or acute disease in the past 3 months?
5. Neuropsychological problems:
6. Body Mass Index (BMI) — weight in kg / height in m²:
Part 2 — Lifestyle & Dietary Habits
7. Lives independently (not in a nursing home or hospital):
8. Takes more than 3 prescription medications per day:
9. Pressure sores or skin ulcers:
10. How many full meals does the patient eat per day?
11. Protein intake — how many portions of dairy, legumes, meat/fish/poultry or eggs per day? (Score 1 point for each "yes")

Check all that apply:

Select items above — 0–1 checked = 0 pts; 2 checked = 0.5 pts; 3 checked = 1 pt

12. Consumes two or more servings of fruits or vegetables per day:
13. How much fluid (water, juice, coffee, tea, milk) is consumed per day?
14. Mode of feeding:
Part 3 — Self-Assessment
15. Does the patient view themselves as having nutritional problems?
16. In comparison to other people of the same age, how does the patient consider their health status?
Part 4 — Anthropometric Measurements
17. Mid-arm circumference (MAC) in cm:
18. Calf circumference (CC) in cm:

MNA Score Result

Complete the assessment and click
Calculate MNA Score

Score Reference

Normal nutrition 24 – 30
At risk of malnutrition 17 – 23.5
Malnourished Below 17

This tool is for screening only. A score below 24 should prompt referral to a registered dietitian or clinician for full assessment.

Summary

The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) is a validated clinical screening tool used worldwide to identify malnutrition or risk of malnutrition in adults aged 65 and older. It covers food intake, weight loss, mobility, psychological stress, BMI, and dietary habits. A total score of 24 or above indicates normal nutritional status; 17–23.5 indicates risk; below 17 indicates malnutrition.

How it works

  1. Answer all 18 questions across six categories: food intake, weight & mobility, psychological factors, BMI, dietary habits, and self-assessment.
  2. Each question has weighted answer options; select the one that best matches the patient's current condition.
  3. The tool adds up all selected values to produce a total MNA score out of 30.
  4. The score is classified into one of three zones: Normal (24–30), At Risk (17–23.5), or Malnourished (below 17).
  5. Review the result and suggested next steps; consult a clinician for any score below 24.

Use cases

  • Routine nutritional screening during hospital admission of elderly patients.
  • Nursing home intake assessments to flag residents needing dietitian referral.
  • Community health workers monitoring elderly individuals living independently.
  • Caregiver self-assessment to evaluate a family member's nutritional status.
  • Students and clinicians studying geriatric nutrition assessment methods.
  • Research and audit purposes requiring a standardized nutrition score.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-05-29 · Reviewed by Nham Vu