[ABSTRACT] BACKGROUND: Revalidation of the Mini Examen Cognoscitivo (MEC), first Spanish version (1978) of the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) and documentation of population-based norms should clarify the potential confusion induced by later versions of MMSE. METHODS: a) Context: The Zaragoza Study on the prevalence of dementia and depression in a representative sample of the elderly community (N = 1,080). b) Instruments: MEC-35 and MEC-30 points. Validated, Spanish versions of Geriatri