Validation of the Russian Version of the MoCA Test as a Cognitive Screening Instrument in Cognitively Asymptomatic Older Individuals and Those With Mild Cognitive Impairment

Background: Cognitive impairment is a common condition in older people, and age-related cognitive symptoms may progress to Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia. Physical exercise and cognitive training may be useful in maintaining cognitive function, and those developing impaired cognitive function should be advised to plan for the future. The MoCA test is a useful cognitive screening instrument, but the Russian version of this test has not yet been validated. The aim of the present study was to validate the Russian version of the MoCA test. Methods: The study population included 160 residents of Israel aged 65 years and older with Russian as their mother tongue, 80 of whom were cognitively asymptomatic (AC) and 80 with a clinical diagnosis of MCI. All participants underwent cognitive screening using the Russian version of the MoCA test (MoCA-Ru) as well as evaluation by means of a validated computerized cognitive assessment battery (Neurotrax). Results: The mean age of the study population was 78 ± 6.6 years and 123 (76.9%) were women. The MoCA-Ru score was higher in the AC group than in those with MCI (24.3 ± 3.74 vs. 20.2 ± 3.07, P < 0.0001). At a cutoff value of ≥25, sensitivity was 0.99 and specificity 0.54, with area under the curve (AUC) of 0.81. Conclusions: We found the Russian language version of the MoCA test to be a useful cognitive screening instrument for older people with mild cognitive impairment.