Comparison of Montreal Cognitive Assessment test and Mini Mental State Examination in detecting cognitive impairment in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients

Background and purpose: Cognitive impairment (CI) is one of the causes of disabilities in multiple sclerosis patients (MS). Therefore, early detection and evaluation of cognitive performance is very important in patients with MS. The aim of the present study is to compare Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test and Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE) in Relapsing Remitting (RR) MS patients.

Methods: Fifty RRMS patients who met inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited in this study. MMSE and MoCA were administrated to all subjects. Also demographic data, disease duration and EDSS were recorded. The results of both tests were compared.

Results: The mean score of MoCA and MMSE was 22.86±3.85 and 27.64±2, with a significant difference (p<0.0005). With using MoCA 60% of subject had CI, whereas with MMSE only 34% were impaired (p<0.0005). There was an inverse significant association between education and CI detected by both MMSE and MoCA (for MMSE r=0.535 and p<0.0005, for MoCA r=0.544 and p<0.0005). A significant association was also found between disease duration and CI on both tests (for MMSE r=0.394 and p<0.0005, for MoCA r=0.538 and p<0.0005).

Conclusion: This study suggests that the MoCA has superiority to the MMSE for evaluating cognitive function in RRMS patients.