title: Validation of the Hebrew version of the MoCA test as a screening instrument for the early detection of mild cognitive impairment in elderly individuals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The English version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test has been shown to be reliable in screening for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, the sensitivity and specificity of the Hebrew version of this instrument are yet to be determined.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 2 groups of older individuals, 74 patients diagnosed with MCI and 80 patients who were cognitively asymptomatic. Cognitive evaluation included the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Mindstreams computerized cognitive assessment, and the MoCA test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Hebrew version of MoCA distinguished between cognitively asymptomatic older individuals and those with MCI, with a sensitivity of 94.6% and a specificity of 76.3%, using a cutoff of 26/30 points.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Hebrew version of the MoCA test is effective for identifying MCI in older patients. As a screening instrument for MCI, its higher sensitivity makes it preferable o the MMSE, which is used extensively in the clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: Medical Corps, Israel Defence Forces.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lifshitz
authors.forename: Tzvi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dwolatzky
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Press
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012372:ROC Curve; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity