Previous studies have developed conversion rules for the MMSE and MoCA using either equipercentile equating and/or log-linear smoothing methods. Equating methodologies can facilitate comparison between studies using different scales to measure the same construct. However, to our knowledge no specific comparison of those two tests has been conducted in a general psychogeriatric population where cognitive testing is routine practice.įurthermore, clinical trials vary in their use of these two scales which makes comparisons between studies and meta-analyses difficult. Similarly, population based studies of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) indicate that the MoCA is more sensitive than the MMSE in detecting mild forms of cognitive impairment. Comparison of these two tests in specific populations such as patients with Parkinson’s disease brain metastases or sub-arachnoid haemorrhage indicate that the MoCA is more suitable because it can detect mild forms of cognitive impairment and especially where this includes executive dysfunction. However, some evidence suggests that the MMSE is less sensitive for detecting milder cognitive deficits compared to the MoCA, while other studies indicate that it’s relative insensitivity to visuospatial and executive deficits impact limit it’s suitability in particular populations, e.g., vascular cognitive impairment or Parkinson’s disease. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) are cognitive screening tests that are widely used in both everyday clinical practice and research.

Moca testing scores vs mmse scores