Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale

The MoCA was developed by Nasreddine et al. in Canada based on clinical experience and with reference to the cognitive items and scores of the MMSE (Brief Mental State Examination). The final version was finalized in November 2004 and is a rating tool used for rapid screening of abnormal cognitive functioning. It includes 11 items in 8 cognitive domains, including attention and concentration, executive functioning, memory, language, visual structure skills, abstract thinking, computation, and orientation. With a total score of 30 and a normal score of ≥26, its high sensitivity, coverage of important cognitive domains, and short testing time make it suitable for clinical use. However, it is also influenced by education level, differences in cultural background, examiner’s skills and experience in using MoCA, the environment of the examination and the subject’s emotional and mental state can affect the score, and it is more sensitive for screening of mild cognitive impairment (MIC scale 2 sheets).