The Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic: A Screening Tool for Mild Cognitive Impairment in Illiterate and Low-Educated Elderly Adults

Authors

Parunyou Julayanont, Division of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Sookjaroen Tangwongchai, Dementia Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Solaphat Hemrungrojn, Dementia Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Chawit Tunvirachaisakul, Dementia Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Kammant Phanthumchinda, Division of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Juntanee Hongsawat, Thai Red Cross Health Station 2, Relief and Community Health Bureau, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand.
Panida Suwichanarakul, Thai Red Cross Health Station 2, Relief and Community Health Bureau, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand.
Saowaluck Thanasirorat, Thai Red Cross Health Station 2, Relief and Community Health Bureau, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand.
Ziad S. Nasreddine, MoCA Clinic and Institute, Greenfield Park, Quebec, Canada.

Document Type

Article

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To assess the validity of a newly developed cognitive screening tool, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic (MoCA-B), in screening for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in elderly adults with low education and varying literacy. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Community hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. PARTICIPANTS: Cognitively normal controls (n = 43) and individuals with MCI according to the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association work group criteria (n = 42) aged 55 to 80 with less than 5 years of education. MEASUREMENTS: MoCA-B scores. RESULTS: Mean MoCA-B scores were 26.3 ± 1.6 for illiterate controls and 21.3 ± 3.8 for illiterate participants with MCI (P < .001) and 26.6 ± 2.0 for literate controls and 23.0 ± 2.1 for literate participants with MCI (P < .001). MoCA-B scores did not differ significantly according to literacy, and multiple regression suggested no association with age or education. The optimal cutoff score of 24 out of 25 yielded 81% sensitivity and 86% specificity for MCI (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.90, P < .001). Test-retest reliability was 0.91 (P < .001), and internal consistency was 0.82. Administration time was 15 to 21 minutes. CONCLUSION: The MoCA-B appears to have excellent validity and addresses an unmet need by accurately screening for MCI in poorly educated older adults regardless of literacy.

Publication Date

12-1-2015

Publication Title

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society

E-ISSN

1532-5415

Volume

63

Issue

12

First Page

2550

Last Page

2554

PubMed ID

26648041

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1111/jgs.13820

Recommended Citation

Julayanont, Parunyou; Tangwongchai, Sookjaroen; Hemrungrojn, Solaphat; Tunvirachaisakul, Chawit; Phanthumchinda, Kammant; Hongsawat, Juntanee; Suwichanarakul, Panida; Thanasirorat, Saowaluck; and Nasreddine, Ziad S., "The Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic: A Screening Tool for Mild Cognitive Impairment in Illiterate and Low-Educated Elderly Adults" (2015). Neurology. 1248.
https://scholar.barrowneuro.org/neurology/1248