Montreal Cognitive Assessment Arabic version: reliability and validity prevalence of mild cognitive impairment among...

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a clinical label which includes elderly subjects with memory impairment and with no significant daily functional disability. MCI is an important target for Alzheimer's dementia prevention studies. Data on the prevalence and incidence of MCI varies greatly according to cultural difference. The first aim of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Arabic version in MCI detection. The second was to determine the prevalence of MCI among apparently healthy elderly people attending geriatric clubs in Cairo.

In stage I reliability & validity of MoCA Arabic version were assessed in reference to Cambridge Cognitive Examination (CAMCOG). In stage II prevalence of MCI was estimated using Arabic MoCA among apparently healthy elderly attending geriatric clubs. These geriatric clubs were randomly selected from different regions in Cairo governorate.

Test-retest reliability data of the Arabic MoCA were collected approximately 35.0 +/- 17.6 days apart. The mean change in Arabic MoCA scores from the first to second evaluation was 0.9 +/- 2.5 points, and correlation between the two evaluations was high (correlation coefficient = 0.92, P < 0.001). The internal consistency of the Arabic MoCA was good, yielding a Cronbach's alpha on the standardized items of 0.83. In diagnosing mild cognitive impairment, the Arabic MoCA showed 92.3% sensitivity and 85.7% specificity. The prevalence of MCI among elderly subjects attending geriatric clubs in Cairo is 34.2% and 44.3% of healthy men and women, respectively.

Older age, female sex and less education are the independent risk factors for MCI among apparently healthy elderly subjects attending geriatric clubs in Cairo.