ABSTRACT
The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is one of the most common screening instruments for mild cognitive impairment. However, the standard MoCA is approximately two times longer to administer than the Mini-Mental State Examination. A total of 699 Czech and 175 American participants received the standard MoCA Czech and English versions and in the clinical part, a sample of 102 nondemented patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). We created a validated Czech short version (s-MoCA-CZ) from the original using item response theory. As expected, s-MoCA-CZ scores were highly correlated with the standard version (Pearson r = .94, p < .001). s-MoCA-CZ also had 80% classification accuracy in the differentiation of PD mild cognitive impairment from PD without impairment. The s-MoCA-CZ, a brief screening tool, is shorter to administer than the standard MoCA. It provides high-classification accuracy for PD mild cognitive impairment and is equivalent to that of the standard MoCA-CZ.
Subject(s)
Cognitive Dysfunction , Parkinson Disease , Cognition , Cognitive Dysfunction/diagnosis , Cross-Cultural Comparison , Czech Republic , Humans , Mental Status and Dementia Tests , Neuropsychological Tests , Parkinson Disease/diagnosisABSTRACT
Cognitive performance is dynamic and shaped by individual biological and environmental factors throughout life. In psychology, besides the effects of age, education, and other often studied factors, the complexity of the lived-in environment and urbanicity in that context are yet to be elucidated. In this observational cross-sectional study, we compare cognitive performance in standard neuropsychological tests in healthy older persons from three different types of settlements in the Czechia: the capital city of Prague, towns, and villages. The groups were equal in terms of the age-band (60-74 years), the distribution of gender, education, past and current leisure activities, and cognitive health status (MMSE score). The results showed that Prague citizens had consistently better performance in all verbal tests (for memory and verbal control, i.e., executive function) and attention than persons from other areas. The groups did not differ in timed visuo-graphomotor performance. The conclusion is that the complex environment of a city may promote, in the long-term, certain cognitive abilities, distinguishable even in a developed, culturally homogenous country. The implications are: (a) the description of samples used in normative studies should include information on the lived-in environment for the reference of researchers and clinicians; and (b) individual clinical assessment should reflect the role of the patient's environment where appropriate. The exact mechanisms and causes of the differences need further investigation.
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACTBeck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) is one of the most-used rating scales. It was developed as a tool administered either as a self-rating or interview-based, observer-rating scale. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study is to compare BDI-II scores obtained with two standard methods of administration in community-based older persons. METHODS: BDI-II was administered at first in the self-rated version to a sample of 60 mentally healthy older persons (age 60-87 years). Afterward, the interview-based administration was performed. ANALYSES: We compared the scores with nonparametric tests - Spearman's correlation coefficient and Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test. We also computed internal consistency. RESULTS: Self-rated BDI-II yielded significantly higher total score than interview (p < 0.001, P = 88%). The correlation between total scores was moderate (rs = 0.46, p < 0.001). Item analysis revealed a larger decrease (lower scores) in the somatic items in the interview-based version. CONCLUSIONS: The two methods of administration result in different total score in healthy older persons. Therefore, interpretation of the scores should reflect the administration, which should be always specified in the studies.
