The NMS requires a self-report on the ability to complete walking tasks in different settings, including indoor walking (e.g., within a house), outdoor walking, and walking during shopping. Each item is scored on a scale from 0 to 3 based on the individual's self-reported ability: a score of 0 indicates the individual was unable to complete the task, a score of 1 indicates the individual required assistance from another person to complete the task, a score of 2 indicates the individual completed the task with the aid of a walking aid, and a score of 3 indicates the individual completed the task independently without any walking assistance.

The Cumulative Ambulation Score assesses four distinct activities (getting out of bed, sitting, and walking) using a three-point ordinal scale ranging from 0 to 2. A score of 0 indicates that the individual is unable to perform the activity despite human assistance and verbal cues; a score of 1 signifies that the activity can be performed with human assistance and/or verbal prompting from one or more individuals; and a score of 2 denotes the ability to perform the activity safely without human assistance or verbal prompting, although the use of a walking aid is permitted. The total score ranges from 0 to 6.

The total score of this test ranges from 0 to 30, with lower scores indicating more pronounced cognitive impairment. In the literature, a cut-off score of 24 is commonly accepted, with scores of 24 or below suggesting a risk of cognitive impairment.