Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026
A Machine Learning Approach to Design an Efficient Selective Screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published on: January 11, 2020
Montreal Cognitive Assessment for Evaluating Cognitive Impairment in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Systematic Review
Amalia Cornea1,2, Mihaela Simu1,2, Elena Cecilia Rosca1,2
1Department of Neurology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
Insights
The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) may help detect cognitive impairment after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Adjusting the MoCA
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuropsychology
- Diagnostic Accuracy Studies
Background:
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a critical condition with significant mortality and long-term morbidity.
- Cognitive and psychological impairments are increasingly recognized in SAH patients, impacting quality of life.
- The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is a tool for evaluating cognitive function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the diagnostic accuracy of the MoCA for cognitive impairment in SAH patients.
- To assess the MoCA's utility in the subacute and chronic phases post-SAH.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of five databases up to January 2022.
- Inclusion of two cross-sectional studies evaluating MoCA accuracy in SAH patients.
- Quality appraisal using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 (QUADAS-2) criteria.
Main Results:
- The MoCA provides insights into general cognitive disturbances in SAH patients.
- A lower MoCA threshold than the original cutoff may enhance diagnostic accuracy.
- Lowering the threshold can reduce false positive rates in SAH cognitive impairment detection.
Conclusions:
- The MoCA test is informative for assessing cognitive function in SAH.
- Modifying the MoCA's cutoff threshold may improve its diagnostic performance in this population.
- Further research is needed to establish evidence-based guidelines for MoCA use in SAH.
Abstract:
Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a severe condition with high mortality and extensive long-term morbidity. Although research has focused mainly on physical signs and disability for decades, in recent years, it has been increasingly recognized that cognitive and psychological impairments may be present in many patients with SAH, negatively impacting their quality of life. We performed a systematic review aiming to provide a comprehensive report on the diagnostic accuracy of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test for evaluating the presence of cognitive impairment in patients with SAH. Using appropriate search terms, we searched five databases (PubMed, Scopus, PsychINFO, Web of Sciences, and Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature) up to January 2022. Two cross-sectional studies investigated the accuracy of MoCA in SAH patients in the subacute and chronic phase. We appraised the quality of the included studies using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 (QUADAS-2) criteria. The MoCA test provides information about general cognitive functioning disturbances. However, a lower threshold than the original cutoff might be needed as it improves diagnostic accuracy, lowering the false positive rates. Further research is necessary for an evidence-based decision to use the MoCA in SAH patients.
