Affiliations: [a] Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong
| [b] University Research Facility in Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong
| [c] Department of Counselling and Psychology, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, Braemer Hill, North Point, Hong Kong
| [d] Faculty of Social Sciences, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
| [e] Institute of Active Ageing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong
| [f] Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong
| [g] Department of Sports and Health, Guangzhou Sport University, Tian He Bei, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| [h] Department of Psychology, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong
Correspondence:
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Correspondence to: Chetwyn C. H. Chan, Peter T. C. Lee Chair Professor in the Department of Psychology, The Education University of Hong Kong, 10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong, China. Tel.: +82 29486322; E-mail: cchchan@eduhk.hk.
Abstract: Background:The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is a standard test for screening and monitoring cognitive functions. Objective:This study explored the two-year changes in MoCA scores in older adults. Methods:Fifty-seven participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 87 participants with normal cognition completed the baseline and two-year follow-up assessments. Apart from MoCA, tests on visuospatial judgment, memory, and motor-related executive function were administered. Results:The results identified three MCI subgroups based on the differential changes in MoCA scores. They were the consistently low, consistently high, and low-to-high between-time performances. These heterogeneous test performances are on contrary to the significant deteriorations in executive function and finger dexterity across all subgroups. Repeated exposure to MoCA tests during the follow-up period was found to be a plausible indicator of the MCI subgroup categorization. Conclusion:Findings raise concerns over adopting brief clinical instrument for repeated testing, such as MoCA, for monitoring MCI conditions among older adults.
Keywords: Aging, mild cognitive impairment, montreal cognitive assessment
