Background: This study compares the performance at the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) across the healthy adult lifespan in an Italian population sample. Methods: The MMSE and MoCA were administered to 407 Italian healthy native-speakers (165 males; age range 20–93 years; education range 4–25 years). A generalized Negative Binomial mixed model was run to profile MMSE and MoCA scores across 8 different age classes (≤ 30; 31–40; 41–50; 51–60; 61–70; 71–80; 81–85; ≥ 86) net of education and sex. Results: MMSE and MoCA total scores declined with age (p < 0.001), with the MoCA proving to be “more difficult” than the MMSE (p < 0.001). The Age*Test interaction (p < 0.001) indicates that the MoCA proved to profile a sufficiently linear involutional trend in cognition with advancing age and to be able to detect poorer cognitive performances in individuals aged ≥ 71 years. By contrast, MMSE scores failed in capturing the expected age-related trajectory, reaching a plateau in the aforementioned age classes. Discussion: The MoCA seems to be more sensitive than the MMSE in detecting age-related physiological decline of cognitive functioning across the healthy adult lifespan. The MoCA might be therefore more useful than the MMSE as a test for general cognitive screening aims.

Aiello, E., Pasotti, F., Appollonio, I., Bolognini, N. (2022). Trajectories of MMSE and MoCA scores across the healthy adult lifespan in the Italian population. AGING CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH, 34(10), 2417-2420 [10.1007/s40520-022-02174-0].

Trajectories of MMSE and MoCA scores across the healthy adult lifespan in the Italian population

Aiello, Edoardo Nicolò
Primo
;
Appollonio, Ildebrando
Penultimo
;
Bolognini, Nadia
Ultimo
2022

Abstract

Background: This study compares the performance at the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) across the healthy adult lifespan in an Italian population sample. Methods: The MMSE and MoCA were administered to 407 Italian healthy native-speakers (165 males; age range 20–93 years; education range 4–25 years). A generalized Negative Binomial mixed model was run to profile MMSE and MoCA scores across 8 different age classes (≤ 30; 31–40; 41–50; 51–60; 61–70; 71–80; 81–85; ≥ 86) net of education and sex. Results: MMSE and MoCA total scores declined with age (p < 0.001), with the MoCA proving to be “more difficult” than the MMSE (p < 0.001). The Age*Test interaction (p < 0.001) indicates that the MoCA proved to profile a sufficiently linear involutional trend in cognition with advancing age and to be able to detect poorer cognitive performances in individuals aged ≥ 71 years. By contrast, MMSE scores failed in capturing the expected age-related trajectory, reaching a plateau in the aforementioned age classes. Discussion: The MoCA seems to be more sensitive than the MMSE in detecting age-related physiological decline of cognitive functioning across the healthy adult lifespan. The MoCA might be therefore more useful than the MMSE as a test for general cognitive screening aims.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Aging; Cognitive screening; Mini-Mental State Examination; Montreal Cognitive Assessment;
English
2-lug-2022
2022
34
10
2417
2420
none
Aiello, E., Pasotti, F., Appollonio, I., Bolognini, N. (2022). Trajectories of MMSE and MoCA scores across the healthy adult lifespan in the Italian population. AGING CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH, 34(10), 2417-2420 [10.1007/s40520-022-02174-0].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/387076
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