title: The montreal cognitive assessment: short cognitive evaluation in a large stroke trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cognitive function is often ignored in stroke research trials. The brief Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) may be sensitive to stroke-related cognitive deficits.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the feasibility of administering the MoCA at 3 months in a large stroke trial (A Very Early Rehabilitation Trial [AVERT]).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data (blinded to intervention group) are presented for 294 patients with mean age of 70.6 years (SD, 12.8); 220 (75%) completed the MoCA, 54 (18%) had missing data, and 20 (7%) had died. Of those surviving to 3 months, the MoCA was completed by 87% with mild stroke, 79% with moderate stroke, and 67% with severe stroke on admission. Mean MoCA score was 21.1 (SD 7.5) out of 30; only 78 of 220 (35%) patients attained the "normal" cutoff (≥26).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MoCA is a feasible global cognitive screening tool in stroke trials. Clinical Trial Registration- URL: www.anzctr.org.au/trial_view.aspx?ID=1266. Unique identifier: ACTRN12606000185561.
authors.affiliation: National Stroke Research Institute, Florey Neuroscience Institutes, Melbourne, Australia. tcumming@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Toby B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Cumming
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bernhardt
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Linden
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors