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Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA): Validation Study for Vascular Dementia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 June 2012

Sandra Freitas ,
Mário R. Simões ,
Lara Alves ,
Margarida Vicente  and
Isabel Santana
Sandra Freitas*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal Centro de Investigação do Núcleo de Estudos e Intervenção Cognitivo Comportamental (CINEICC), Coimbra, Portugal
Mário R. Simões
Affiliation:
Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal Centro de Investigação do Núcleo de Estudos e Intervenção Cognitivo Comportamental (CINEICC), Coimbra, Portugal
Lara Alves
Affiliation:
Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
Margarida Vicente
Affiliation:
Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
Isabel Santana
Affiliation:
Neurology Department of the Coimbra University Hospital & Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to: Sandra Freitas, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Rua do Colégio Novo, Apartado 6153, 3001-802 Coimbra, Portugal. E-mail: sandrafreitas0209@gmail.com
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Abstract

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is a brief instrument developed for the screening of milder forms of cognitive impairment, having surpassed the well-known limitations of the MMSE. The aim of the present study was to validate the MoCA as well as its short version, which was proposed by the NINDS-CSN VCI Harmonization Standards for screening Vascular Dementia (VaD) patients. The results, based on a homogeneous sample of 34 VaD patients, indicate that the MoCA is a psychometrically valid and reliable instrument for cognitive screening in VaD patients, showing excellent discriminant validity. Both the full and short versions of the MoCA had excellent diagnostic accuracy in discriminating VaD patients, exhibiting an area under curve (AUC) higher than the MMSE [AUC(MoCA full version) = .950; 95% IC = .868–.988; AUC(MoCA short version) = .936; 95% IC = .849–.981; AUC(MMSE) = .860; 95% IC = .754–.932]. With a cutoff below 17 on the MoCA full version and 8 on the short version, the results for sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and classification accuracy were superior compared to the MMSE. In conclusion, both versions of the MoCA are valid, reliable, sensitive and accurate screening instruments for VaD patients. (JINS, 2012, 18, 1–10)

Keywords

Neuropsychological testValidation studiesGeriatric assessmentCognitionVascular DementiaAlzheimer disease
Type
Research Articles
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 18 , Issue 6 , November 2012 , pp. 1031 - 1040
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 2012

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