title: Scaling Cognitive Domains of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment: An Analysis Using the Partial Credit Model.
abstract: The psychometric properties of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were examined by using the Partial Credit Model. The study sample included 897 participants who were distributed into two main subgroups: (I) the clinical group (90 patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment, 90 patients with Alzheimer's disease, 33 patients with Frontotemporal Dementia, and 34 patients with Vascular dementia, whose diagnoses were previously established according to a consensus that was reached by a multidisciplinary team, based on the international criteria) and (II) the healthy group (composed of 650 cognitively healthy community dwellers). The results show (i) an overall good fit for both the items and the persons' values, (ii) high variability for the cognitive performance level of the cognitive domains (ranging between 1.90 and -3.35, where "Short-term Memory" was the most difficult item and "Spatial Orientation" was the easiest item) and between the subjects on the scale, (iii) high reliability for the estimation of the persons' values, (iv) good discriminant validity and high diagnostic utility, and (v) a minimal differential item functioning effect related to of pathology, gender, age, and educational level. MoCA and its cognitive domains are suitable measures to use for screening the cognitive status of cognitively healthy subjects and patients with cognitive impairment.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal Centro de Investigação do Núcleo de Estudos e Intervenção Cognitivo Comportamental (CINEICC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal Psychological Assessment Lab., Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Psicología Básica, Psicobiología y Metodología de las Ciencias del Comportamiento, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigação do Núcleo de Estudos e Intervenção Cognitivo Comportamental (CINEICC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal Psychological Assessment Lab., Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mário R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Simões
authors.affiliation: Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal Neurology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Santana
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D057180:Frontotemporal Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000592:standards*; D011174:Portugal; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
keywords: Aging; Assessment; Dementia; Mild Cognitive Impairment