Final answer:
The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is the initial screener used to assess memory function as part of the broader mental status exam. It comprises subtests designed to evaluate cerebral functions, including memory.
Step-by-step explanation:
The initial screener to assess memory function is the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The MMSE is a practical method to grade cognitive status and includes a series of subtests designed to assess various cerebral functions, among which orientation and memory are pertinent to assessing memory function. The MMSE is commonly used in the clinical setting to screen for cognitive impairments and to follow the course of cognitive changes in an individual over time. It is also an important part of the broader mental status exam which also includes assessments for language and speech, sensorium, and judgment and abstract reasoning. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), a widely used personality inventory, and the assessment it provides through multiple true/false questions, does not directly assess memory function. Instead, the MMPI is designed to produce a clinical profile based on scales of different psychological conditions and is often used for clinical diagnoses, occupational screening, and counseling purposes.