The MoCA-S displayed good internal consistency (Cronbach's α: 0.772), high inter-rater reliability (Spearman correlation coefficient: 0.846; P<.01), and high intra-rater reliability (test-retest reliability coefficient: 0.922; P<.001).
Validation of the Spanish-language version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test in adults older than 60 years
 
  Keywords
 
 
  
   Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
  
 
 
  
   Cognitive screening
  
 
 
  
   Amnestic mild cognitive impairment
  
 
 
  
   Minimental State Examination (MMSE)
  
 
 
  
   Latin America
  
 
 
  
   Dementia
  
 
Introduction
Few studies have validated the Spanish-language version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-S) test in Latin American populations.
Objetive
To evaluate the psychometric properties and discriminant validity of the MoCA-S in elderly patients in Santiago de Chile.
Methods
172 individuals were grouped according to their clinical diagnosis based on the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale as follows: <dis>amnestic mild cognitive impairment</dis> (<dis>aMCI</dis>; n±24), <dis>non-amnestic MCI</dis> (<dis>naMCI</dis>; n±24), <dis>mild dementia</dis> (n±20), and cognitively normal (n±104). 
Participants were evaluated with both the MoCA-S and the Mini–Mental State Examination (MMSE) to determine the discriminant validity of the MoCA-S.
Results
Mean age and years of schooling were 73±6 and 11±4 years, respectively, with no significant intergroup differences. 
The MoCA-S displayed good internal consistency (Cronbach's α: 0.772), high inter-rater reliability (Spearman correlation coefficient: 0.846; P<.01), and high intra-rater reliability (test-retest reliability coefficient: 0.922; P<.001). 
The MoCA-S was found to be an effective and valid test for detecting <dis>aMCI</dis> (AUC±0.903) and <dis>mild dementia</dis> (AUC±0.957); its effectiveness for detecting <dis>naMCI</dis> was lower (AUC±0.629). 
The optimal cut-off points for <dis>aMCI</dis> and <dis>mild dementia</dis> were<21 and<20, respectively, with sensitivity and specificity rates of 75% and 82% for <dis>aMCI</dis> and 90% and 86% for <dis>mild dementia</dis>. 
The level of education had a great impact on scores: as a result, 2 points were added for patients with less than 8 years of schooling and one point for patients with 8-12 years of schooling (MoCA-S1-2). 
The MoCA-S1-2 showed significantly greater discriminant validity than the MMSE for differentiating aMCI from <dis>dementia</dis>.
Conclusions
The MoCA-S1-2 is a short, easy-to-use, and useful test for diagnosing <dis>aMCI</dis> and <dis>mild dementia</dis>.
Introduction
Few studies have validated the Spanish-language version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-S) test in Latin American populations.
Objetive
To evaluate the psychometric properties and discriminant validity of the MoCA-S in elderly patients in Santiago de Chile.
Methods
172 individuals were grouped according to their clinical diagnosis based on the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale as follows: amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI; n±24), non-amnestic MCI (naMCI; n±24), mild dementia (n±20), and cognitively normal (n±104). 
Participants were evaluated with both the MoCA-S and the Mini–Mental State Examination (MMSE) to determine the discriminant validity of the MoCA-S.
Results
Mean age and years of schooling were 73±6 and 11±4 years, respectively, with no significant intergroup differences. 
The MoCA-S displayed good internal consistency (Cronbach's α: 0.772), high inter-rater reliability (Spearman correlation coefficient: 0.846; P<.01), and high intra-rater reliability (test-retest reliability coefficient: 0.922; P<.001). 
The MoCA-S was found to be an effective and valid test for detecting aMCI (AUC±0.903) and mild dementia (AUC±0.957); its effectiveness for detecting naMCI was lower (AUC±0.629). 
The optimal cut-off points for aMCI and mild dementia were<21 and<20, respectively, with sensitivity and specificity rates of 75% and 82% for aMCI and 90% and 86% for mild dementia. 
The level of education had a great impact on scores: as a result, 2 points were added for patients with less than 8 years of schooling and one point for patients with 8-12 years of schooling (MoCA-S1-2). 
The MoCA-S1-2 showed significantly greater discriminant validity than the MMSE for differentiating aMCI from dementia.
Conclusions
The MoCA-S1-2 is a short, easy-to-use, and useful test for diagnosing aMCI and mild dementia.
The MoCA-S displayed good internal consistency (Cronbach's α: 0.772), high inter-rater reliability (Spearman correlation coefficient: 0.846; P<.01), and high intra-rater reliability (test-retest reliability coefficient: 0.922; P<.001).