Validation of the Argentine version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test (MOCA): A screening tool for Mild Cognitive Impairment and Mild Dementia in Elderly
Cecília Serrano, Marcos Sorbara, Alexander Minond, John B. Finlay, Raúl L. Arizaga, Mónica Iturry, P. Martinez, Gabriela Heinemann, Celina Gagliardi, Andrea Serra, Florencia Ces Magliano, Darío Andrés Yacovino, María Martha Esnaola y Rojas, Adelaida Susana Ruiz, Héctor Gastón Graviotto
Abstract
The MoCA is a brief useful test to diagnose mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild dementia (MD). To date, no Argentine cross-cultural adapted validations of the Spanish version have been reported. OBJECTIVE: To validate the MoCA in the elderly and study its usefulness in MCI and MD. METHODS: This study included 399 individuals over 60 years old evaluated in the Cognitive-Behavioral Department (2017-2018). Patients with<3 years of education, sensory disturbances, psychiatric disorders, or moderate-severe dementia were excluded. The control group comprised cognitively normal subjects. Participants were classified according to neuropsychological assessment and clinical standard criteria into Control, MCI or MD groups. A locally adapted MoCA (MOCA-A) was administered to the patients and controls. RESULTS: Mean educational level was 10.34 years (SD 3.5 years). MoCA-A score differed significantly among groups (p<0.0001). MoCA-A performance correlated with educational level (r: 0.406 p<0.00001). Adopting a cut-off score ≥25 (YI=0.55), the sensitivity for MCI was 84.8% and for MD 100%, with specificity of 69.7%. When adding a single point to the score in patients with ≤12 years of education, the specificity of the test reached 81%. CONCLUSION: The MoCA-A is an accurate reliable screening test for MCI and MD in Argentina.