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The Montreal Cognitive Assessment: Is It Suitable for Identifying Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson's Disease?
Author(s) -
Rosenblum Sara,
Meyer Sonya,
Gemerman Netta,
Mentzer Lilya,
Richardson Ariella,
IsraeliKorn Simon,
Livneh Vered,
Karmon Tsvia Fay,
Nevo Tal,
Yahalom Gilad,
HassinBaer Sharon
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
movement disorders clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.754
H-Index - 18
ISSN - 2330-1619
DOI - 10.1002/mdc3.12969
Subject(s) - montreal cognitive assessment , neuropsychology , cognition , neuropsychological assessment , psychology , neuropsychological test , cognitive skill , clinical psychology , categorization , cognitive impairment , medicine , psychiatry , philosophy , epistemology
Background Administering an abbreviated global cognitive test, such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), is necessary for the recommended first‐level diagnostic criteria for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in Parkinson's disease (PD). Level II requires administering cognitive functioning neuropsychological tests. The MoCA's suitability for identifying PD‐MCI is questionable and, despite the importance of cognitive deficits reflected through daily functioning in identifying PD‐MCI, knowledge about it is scarce. Objectives To explore neuropsychological test scores of patients with PD who were categorized based on their MoCA scores and to analyze correlations between this categorization and patients’ self‐reports about daily functional‐related cognitive abilities. Methods A total of 78 patients aged 42 to 78 years participated: 46 with low MoCA scores (22–25) and 32 with high MoCA scores (26–30). Medical assessments and level II neuropsychological assessment tools were administered along with standardized self‐report questionnaires about daily functioning that reflects patients’ cognitive abilities. Results A high percentage of the low MoCA group obtained neuropsychological test scores within the normal range; a notable number in the high MoCA group were identified with MCI‐level scores on various neuropsychological tests. Suspected PD‐MCI according to the level I criteria did not correspond well with the level II criteria. Positive correlations were found among the 3 self‐report questionnaires. Conclusions These results support the ongoing discussion of the complexity of capturing PD‐MCI. Considering the neuropsychological tests results, assessments that reflect cognitive encounters in real life daily confrontations are warranted among people diagnosed with PD who are at risk for cognitive decline.