Cognitive screening. ≈ 10 minutes to complete.
MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) is a validated reference instrument used to assess cognitive screening. It is most often used for cognitive screening, especially for mild cognitive impairment. Typical administration time is ≈ 10 minutes.
Source / attribution: © Z. Nasreddine — certification required since Sept 2020
If MoCA doesn't fit your context, related instruments in neurology include:
| Scale | Measures | Items | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glasgow Coma Scale | Level of consciousness after head injury | 3 | — |
| mRS | Functional outcome after stroke | 1 | — |
| ABCD2 | 2-day stroke risk after TIA | 5 | — |
| NIHSS (Lite) | Stroke severity | 13 | — |
| ASA Physical Status | Pre-operative health status | 1 | — |
| Barthel Index | Functional independence in ADLs | 10 | — |
| BDI-II | Severity of depression | — | ≈ 5 minutes |
| CHA2DS2-VASc | Annual stroke risk in non-valvular atrial fibrillation | 8 | — |
MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) is a validated instrument that assesses cognitive screening. Its primary clinical use is Cognitive screening, especially for mild cognitive impairment. It takes about 10 minutes to complete, and the items are combined to produce a total score.
MoCA typically takes about 10 minutes to administer. The exact duration varies a little depending on whether it is self-administered or completed with a clinician. Its brief format is part of what makes it practical for routine clinical use and for repeat administration when tracking change over time.
MoCA requires user certification (paid) to administer since September 2020.
Yes — SLUMS. Free cognitive screen developed by Saint Louis University; comparable sensitivity for MCI.
Nasreddine ZS, Phillips NA, Bédirian V, et al. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA: a brief screening tool for mild cognitive impairment. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2005;53(4):695-699. This is the original publication for the MoCA — the reference to cite when reporting results.
No. MoCA is a structured assessment aid, not a diagnostic test. Its proper role is Cognitive screening, especially for mild cognitive impairment — it standardizes assessment and flags who needs closer evaluation, but the result must be weighed alongside history, examination, and clinical context. When a score conflicts with your clinical impression, clinical judgment takes precedence; treatment decisions should never rest on a screening score alone.
MoCA is supported by the following peer-reviewed sources: