Normative Data for the Montreal Cognitive Assessment in a Lebanese Older Adult Population

IntroductionThe Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a neuropsychological tool for cognitive decline screening is widely used. In the absence of normative data in Lebanon, this study offers normative data for the MoCA in Lebanese community-dwelling older people and compare scores to those of other countries. Methods: 164 literate subjects aged 60 and above were recruited to complete the MoCA. Results: The mean MoCA score observed (24.20 points) was lower than that for normal controls (27.4 points) in the original validation study of the MoCA. Regression analysis showed that fewer years of education were associated with lower MoCA scores (p < .000). Conclusions: This study presents normative data and the findings suggest that cultural differences are evident in cognitive testing.     

Montreal Cognitive Assessment for the screening and prediction of cognitive decline in early Parkinson's disease

BackgroundEarly diagnosis of cognitive impairment in PD would allow appropriate monitoring and timely intervention to reduce the progression to dementia (PDD).ObjectiveTo study the usefulness of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in the screening for mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI) and its predictive utility in determining longitudinal cognitive decline in PD.MethodsProspective longitudinal study of patients with mild PD. PD-MCI and PDD was diagnosed based on the Movement Disorder taskforce (MDS) criteria. Receiver Operating Characteristic analyses and Cox regression analyses were performed.Results95 patients; mean age 66.37 (SD 7.86); mean H&Y score of 1.99 (SD 0.45) were studied. At baseline, 34 patients fulfilled the MDS criteria for PD-MCI. MoCA, compared to the MMSE had a high discriminatory power in detecting PD-MCI [Area Under Curve (AUC) of 0.912, p < 0.001]. A MoCA score of ≤26 provided a sensitivity of 93.1% for the diagnosis of PD-MCI. In the longitudinal cohort over 2 years, baseline MOCA was useful in predicting cognitive decline (AUC of 0.707, p = 0.05). With Cox regression analyses, a 1-point lower score on baseline MoCA was associated with a 34% increased risk of cognitive decline [Hazard ratio (HR) 1.34; 95% CI: 1.03–1.74: p = 0.029]. A baseline MoCA ≤26 was highly predictive of progressive cognitive decline (HR 3.47, 95% CI: 2.38–5.07; p < 0.01).ConclusionsMoCA is a reliable tool in predicting cognitive decline in early PD. A MoCA score of ≤26 significantly increases the risk for progressive cognitive decline.     

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment: A screening tool for mild cognitive impairment in REM sleep behavior disorder

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a frequent feature in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), a sleep disturbance that can be a preclinical stage of Parkinson's disease or Lewy body dementia. We evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of two brief screening tools, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE), in detecting MCI in idiopathic RBD. Thirty‐eight idiopathic RBD patients underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment, including the MoCA and the MMSE. Receiver operating characteristic curves were created for the MoCA and the MMSE to assess their ability to identify MCI in idiopathic RBD patients, with neuropsychological assessment as the gold standard. For the MoCA, a normality cutoff of 26 yielded the best balance between sensitivity (76%) and specificity (85%) with a correct classification of 79%. For the MMSE, the optimal normality cutoff was 30, with a sensitivity of 84% and a specificity of 54% and a correct classification of 74%. The MoCA is superior to the MMSE in detecting MCI in idiopathic RBD patients, showing good sensitivity and very good specificity. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society     

蒙特利尔认知评估量表在轻度认知功能障碍筛查中的应用

目的 探讨蒙特利尔认知评估量表(MoCA)在轻度认知功能障碍(MCI)患者筛查中的应用.方法 应用简易精神状态检查量表(MMSE)、MoCA对32例MCI患者和50例健康对照者进行神经心理评估,比较二者筛查MCI的效果.结果 以26分为分界值,MoCA筛查MCI的敏感性为96.87%、特异性为76%,MMSE筛查MCI的敏感性为56.25%、特异性为96%;MoCA中除抽象思维、地点定向两项外,其余各亚项的评分在MCI组和对照组间差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05):MMSE中仅计算与注意力、延迟回忆两项在MCI组和对照组间差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05),其余各项差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 MoCA为高敏感性的MCI筛查工具,能全面评估MCI患者的认知功能.且可用于筛查MMSE得分正常的MCI患者.     

Bridging cognitive screening tests in neurologic disorders: A crosswalk between the short Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Mini-Mental State Examination

Introduction

To provide a crosswalk between the recently proposed short Montreal Cognitive Assessment (s-MoCA) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) within a clinical cohort.

Domain-specific accuracy of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment subsections in Parkinson's disease

ObjectiveThe Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is among the most widely adopted screening tools for cognitive impairment because it includes tests in multiple domains and is available in 55 languages. The MoCA is often the only formal cognitive assessment available when comprehensive neuropsychological testing is not practical, such as rural clinical settings or large retrospective and multi-lingual research settings. However, the MoCA domain-specific subsections have never been formally assessed for sensitivity or specificity. Therefore, in Parkinson's disease, we examined whether the subsections of the MoCA could identify cognitive impairment within specific cognitive domains.MethodsWe administered a comprehensive neuropsychological battery to 85 Parkinson's disease participants, who were then categorized as with or without cognitive impairment, with respect to global cognition and in five cognitive domains. We then assessed the domain-specific categorization of the MoCA subsections compared to the full neuropsychology battery.ResultsAll MoCA subsections predicted impairment in their respective cognitive domain. However, the executive subsection showed the highest sensitivity and specificity (89.3% and 82.5%, respectively), followed by visuospatial (93.3% and 45.7%, respectively) and memory (84.6% and 56.5%, respectively).ConclusionThe MoCA is a useful screening tool for PD global cognitive and executive functions. The MoCA is also highly sensitive to visuospatial and memory impairment, but with limited specificity and accuracy these subsections should be interpreted with caution.     

Clinical application of the Polish adaptation of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test in screening for cognitive impairment

Background and purposeThe Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test is a brief cognitive screening tool with high sensitivity and specificity for detecting mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of MoCA and compare it with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in the early detection of cognitive decline in MCI.Material and methodsA group of 115 subjects (36 meeting DSM-IV criteria for Alzheimer disease (AD) [Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) = 1], 42 meeting Petersen's criteria for MCI [CDR = 0.5], and 37 cognitively intact controls [CDR = 0]) was recruited for the study in the university-based Alzheimer out-patient clinic. All participants underwent general medical, neurological, and psychiatric examinations. The MoCA, the MMSE, CDR and the short (15-item) version of the Geriatric Depression Scale were also applied.ResultsBoth MCI and AD groups exhibited impaired performance on MoCA compared to controls. Polish versions of the MMSE and MoCA tests were comparable in discriminating mild dementia from both MCI and control groups. The Polish version of the MoCA test performed marginally better than MMSE in discriminating MCI from controls. We propose to use the MoCA test to screen for MCI using an optimal cut-off score of 24 and to screen for dementia using a cut-off score of 19.ConclusionsThe Polish version of the MoCA seems effective in the detection of deteriorated cognitive performance and appropriate for differentiating impaired from preserved cognitive function in a Polish population.     

A comparison of screening tools for the assessment of Mild Cognitive Impairment: Preliminary findings

We report a pilot investigation into the utility of screening tools in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). The Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the novel Computer-Administered Neuropsychological Screen for Mild Cognitive Impairment (CANS-MCI) were administered to 20 elderly controls and 15 MCI cases. Non-parametric Mann–Whitney U-tests showed significant differences between groups (p?<?.0001) on the CANS-MCI and MoCA. The ACE-R and MoCA total scores showed high sensitivity (90%) to MCI. Area under the curve was consistently significant in discriminating controls and MCI for memory scores across all screening instruments. A useful profile of quantitative and qualitative information pertaining to cognitive functioning in MCI can be obtained with the MoCA, ACE-R, and CANS-MCI.     

北京版MoCA在长沙地区缺血性脑血管病人群中的应用及长沙版MoCA的形成

目的 探讨北京版蒙特利尔认知评估量表(Montreal cognitive assessment,MoCA)的可行性及潜在修订点.通过翻译及修订英文原版MoCA,形成长沙版MoCA.方法 在长沙地区年龄≥40岁的56例缺血性脑血管患者及32名对照人群中应用北京版MoCA、简易精神状态检查量表(MMSE)等进行认知及日常生活、情绪、精神评估.通过相关、ROC曲线(receiver operator characteristic curve)分析及比较北京版MoCA各子测试项目在对照组人群中的得分率及受教育程度的影响等,探讨北京版MoCA的可行性及潜在修订点.进而通过申请英文版MoCA的翻译修订权、翻译、专家评议、修订、小样本临床试验等步骤,最终确定长沙版MoCA.结果 北京版MoCA与MMSE的总分高度相关(r=0.926).北京版MoCA诊断认知障碍的ROC曲线下面积为0.907(95%可信区间为0.848～0.966).按照推荐划界分值(25/26分),其诊断认知障碍的灵敏度及特异度分别为95.35%及55.56%.如果将划界分值调整为23/24分可得到最理想的灵敏度(86.04%)和特异度(82.22%).3个存在修订争议的子测试项目进入小样本试验,经反复评议及修订,于2010年7月确定长沙版MoCA.结论 北京版MoCA为一种有效、可行的认知筛查量表,但尚存在一些不适用于我国大陆人群的不足.长沙版MoCA为一种适合中国大陆人群使用的认知筛查量表.     

Psychometric Properties of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA): An Analysis Using the Rasch Model

In the present study we analyzed the psychometric characteristics of the MoCA (Portuguese version) using the Rasch model for dichotomous items. The total sample comprised of 897 participants distributed between two main subgroups: (I) healthy group that was comprised of 650 cognitively healthy community dwellers and (II) clinical group that was comprised of 90 patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment, 90 patients with Alzheimer’s disease, 33 patients with frontotemporal dementia, and 34 patients with vascular dementia recruited at a reference dementia clinic. All patients were investigated through a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment, laboratory tests essential to exclude a reversible form of dementia, imaging studies (CT or MRI and SPECT or FDG-PET), Apolipoprotein E allele genotyping and CSF biomarker (Aβ42,Tau, and P-tau) analyses. The clinical diagnosis was established through the consensus of a multidisciplinary team, based on international criteria. The results demonstrated an overall good fit of both items and the person’s values, a high variability on cognitive performance level, and a good quality of the measurements. The MoCA scores also demonstrated adequate discriminant validity, with high diagnostic value. DIF analyses indicated the generalized validity of the MoCA scores. In conclusion, the results of this study show the overall psychometric adequacy of the MoCA and verify the discriminant and generalized validity of the obtained results.     

Performance of the Bipolar Spectrum Diagnostic Scale in psychiatric outpatients

Zimmerman M, Galione JN, Chelminski I, Young D, Ruggero CJ. Performance of the Bipolar Spectrum Diagnostic Scale in psychiatric outpatients.
Bipolar Disord 2010: 12: 528–538. © 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Objectives: Recent research has suggested that bipolar disorder, when defined to include milder variants such as bipolar II disorder and bipolar disorder not otherwise specified (NOS), is more prevalent than had been previously reported and often underrecognized. Recommendations for improving the detection of bipolar disorder have included careful clinical evaluations inquiring about a history of mania and hypomania and the use of screening questionnaires. The Bipolar Spectrum Diagnostic Scale (BSDS) was designed to be particularly sensitive to the milder variants of bipolar disorder. In the present report from the Rhode Island Methods to Improve Diagnostic Assessment and Services (MIDAS) project, we examined the operating characteristics of the BSDS in a large sample of psychiatric outpatients presenting for treatment. Methods: A total of 1,100 psychiatric outpatients were interviewed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV and asked to complete the BSDS. Missing data on the BSDS reduced the sample size to 961, approximately 10% (n = 90) of whom were diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Results: The sensitivity of the BSDS was similar for bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, and bipolar disorder NOS/cyclothymia. A receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis indicated that cutoffs of 11 and 12 maximized the sum of sensitivity and specificity for the entire group of patients with bipolar disorder (area under curve = 0.80, p < 0.001). The cutoff point associated with 90% sensitivity for the entire sample of patients with bipolar disorder was 8. At this cutoff the specificity of the scale was 51.1% and positive predictive value was 16.0%. We compared the patients with and without bipolar disorder on each of the BSDS symptom items. The odds ratios were higher for the items assessing hypomanic/manic symptoms than items assessing depressive symptoms. We therefore examined the performance of a subscale composed only of the hypomania/mania items. The area under the curve in the ROC analysis was nearly identical to that of the entire scale (0.81, p < 0.001). Conclusions: With its high negative predictive value, the BSDS was excellent at ruling out a diagnosis of bipolar disorder; however, the low positive predictive value indicates that it is not good at ruling in the diagnosis. These data raise questions about the use of the BSDS as a screening measure in routine clinical psychiatric practice.     

蒙特利尔认知评估量表与简易精神状态量表在脑白质疏松患者中的应用比较

目的比较蒙特利尔认知评估量表（MOCA）和简易精神状态量表（MMSE）对脑白质疏松（LA）患者认知功能障碍的筛查能力,并了解lA患者认知功能受损的特点。方法应用MoCA量表及MMSE量表对56倒LA患者及50例对照的认知功能进行测评,比较两组的测试结果,并比较两量表对LA组中VCI患者的诊断能力。结果LA组的MoCA总评分（20．34±3．00）分明显低于对照组（22．20±2．26）分,差异有统计学意义（t-4．02,P〈O．01）;其中,LA组的命名、语言、抽象、定向力评分均小于对照组,差异有统计学意义（t分别为3．92,3．43,4．02,5．35;P〈0．01）。LA组的MMSE总评分（27．54±1．36）分低于对照组（28．06±1．92）分,差异有统计学意义（t-2．36,P〈0．05）,其中LA组的定向力及延迟回忆评分低于对照组,差异有统计学意义（t分别为2．68,2．60;P〈0．05）。在LA组中,MoCA诊断VCI的敏感度为93．9％、特异度63．6％、假阳性率36．4％、假阴性率9．1％、阳性预测值91．3％、阴性预测值70．0％、诊断符合率84．2％、约登指数0．569;MMSE诊断VCI的上述指标分别为26．7％,90．9％,6．7％,73．3％,92．3％,23．3％,43．4％,0．176。结论LA患者的认知功能受损表现在命名、语言、抽象、定向力及延迟回忆等方面。MoCA量表在筛查LA患者认知功能方面比MMSE量表更敏感。     

Educational level and its Association with the domains of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test

Abstract

Objective: To explore the association between educational level and the scores obtained in each of the domains of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of the SABE/2012 Bogotá survey; a cross-sectional study including 2000 subjects aged ≥60years. The MoCA test was the dependent variable and was stratified by cognitive domains, incorrect answers and scores were considered. Educational level was assessed through years of formal education. Age, sex and selected medical conditions were also included to adjust the multivariate models. Bivariate analyses, fitted logistic and linear regression models were employed for analyzing association between these variables.

Results: The proportion of incorrect answers increased as schooling years decreased and as age increased. In the multivariate analysis, visuospatial and executive function were the most affected domains. Educational level displayed less influence than age on short memory-recall task (standardized beta 0.19 vs -0.24). Educational level showed a greater influence than age on no-memory tasks (the sum of all other domains; standardized beta 0.50 vs -0.29).

Conclusions: It seems logical to consider that performance in most domains of the MoCA is influenced by years of education. Therefore, low scores on these tasks could lead to low total MoCA scores and thus to bias and over diagnosis of cognitive impairment in patients with lower educational levels. Memory-recall domain is not affected much by education and applying it separately could be useful in patients with low educational level in whom we suspect memory impairment.