Multicenter Validation of the First Italian Version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment
What is it about?
The early detection of neurocognitive disorders, especially when mild, is a key issue of health care systems including the Italian Dementia National Plan. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) i.e., the reference screening tool for dementia in Italian Memory Clinics, has low sensitivity in detecting Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or mild dementia. The availability of 10-minute screening test sensitive to MCI and mild dementia, as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), is relevant in the field. The study presents the validity and reliability data for the Italian version of MoCA 7.1 versus MMSE that were administered to patients with MCI and dementia and to healthy older adults. The results showed that MoCA 7.1 has a discriminant power greater than MMSE in the diagnosis of MCI and dementia in the Italian population.
Why is it important?
The most relevant result of the study consists in the timely detection of cognitive impairment to allow professionals and caregivers to administrate timely preventive, pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions with better outcomes with respect to more advanced stages of dementia.