Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA): An update normative study for the Portuguese population

Area of Science:

• Neuropsychology
• Cognitive Science
• Gerontology

Background:

• The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is a validated screening tool for mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
• Previous Portuguese normative data for MoCA required updating due to population changes and study limitations.
• Accurate normative data is crucial for reliable cognitive assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To update and refine the Portuguese normative data for the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).
• To provide more accurate and clinically useful MoCA norms reflecting the current Portuguese population.
• To investigate the influence of sociodemographic factors on MoCA performance in healthy adults.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 860 cognitively healthy Portuguese adults.
• Stratified the sample based on verified Portuguese population sociodemographic distributions.
• Administered a neuropsychological assessment battery including the MoCA test.

Main Results:

• Age and educational level significantly impacted MoCA scores.
• Educational level emerged as the strongest predictor of MoCA performance.
• The updated norms incorporate new age groups and stratified data, including cognitive subscores.

Conclusions:

• The updated MoCA normative data enhances diagnostic power and clinical accuracy in Portugal.
• Sociodemographic variables, particularly education, must be considered when interpreting MoCA scores.
• This study provides a reliable, updated resource for cognitive screening in the Portuguese population.