Montreal cognitive assessment
May 12 2014The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is a rapid screening instrument for mild cognitive dysfunction suitable for use in primary care settings.
The test includes executive functioning and attention tasks, as well as language, memory and visuo-spatial skills.
MoCA is designed for those scoring 24-30 on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The suggested cut-off for dementia is a score of 26.
The test was prospectively validated in a UK memory clinic setting to determine its usefulness as a predictive tool for the development of dementia. At six-month follow up MoCA detected mild dementia in people with MCI (MMSE score above 25 points) with 94 per cent sensitivity and 50 per cent specificity.
MoCA is also accurate in Parkinson’s disease, with cut-offs of 21/30 for Parkinson’s disease dementia (sensitivity 81 per cent; specificity 95 per cent).
A separate scoring sheet is need to administer the category-cued and multiple choice recall items.
Access MoCA online at www.mocatest.org
