The phrase: "no ifs, ands, or buts" and cognitive testing. Lessons from an Asian-American community.

This study assessed the clinical utility of repeating the phrase "No ifs, ands, or buts" for cognitive testing in Hawaii. 242 subjects were screened; 25 (10%) had cognitive impairment. 68% of all subjects were unable to say the phrase "No ifs, ands, or buts" (83% of cognitively impaired and 67% of cognitively intact, p = 0.122). Specificity for cognitive impairment was poor.