Is the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) test better suited to cognitive impairment detection among Latino people than the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)

Abstract

In a sample of 60 patients over the age of sixty and Spanish as mother-tongue, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) tests were carried out to determine if they can be used equally in patients with cerebrovascular disease of small vessel and clinically perceptible affectations of cognitive impairment and Dementia; and obtain similarly valid results. The population with Dementia and cognitive impairment is increasing. Multiple tools and techniques have been perfected to study this health condition to measure mental problems and Dementia. To obtain the sample, we used the simple random method. A protocol of 30 questions focused on evaluating complex cognitive functions was used to apply the MOCA test. In the MMSE test, an 11-question protocol was used to evaluate essential cognitive functions. The results showed that the MOCA test correctly identified an actual positive rate of 89.6% and a true negative rate of 66.7%. The MMSE test had a false positive rate of 4.4%, having a higher probability of falsely identifying an individual with cognitive impairment. The tests help determine the degree of cognitive deterioration, but with different sensitivities according to their level of studies, which should be preferred over the MOCA. Keywords: Mental health; MMSE; MOCA; cognitive impairment; elderly