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Normative data for the Montreal Cognitive Assessment in an Italian population sample
Santangelo G, Siciliano M, Pedone R, Vitale C, Falco F, Bisogno R, Siano P, Barone P et al.. Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, 2014-11-08
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is a rapid screening battery, also including subtests to assess frontal functions such as set-shifting, abstraction and cognitive flexibility. MoCA seems to be useful to identify non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and subcortical dementia; it has high sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing MCI from mild Alzheimer's Disease. Previous studies revealed that certain items of MoCA may be culturally biased and highlighted the need for population-based norms for the MoCA. The aim of present study was to collect normative values in a sample of Italian healthy subjects. Four hundred and fifteen Italian healthy subjects (252 women and 163 men) of different ages (age range 21-95 years) and educational level (from primary to university) underwent MoCA and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that age and education significantly influenced performance on MoCA. No significant effect of gender was found. From the derived linear equation, a correction grid for MoCA raw scores was built. Inferential cut-off score, estimated using a non-parametric technique, is 15.5 and equivalent scores were computed. Correlation analysis showed a significant but weak correlation between MoCA adjusted scores with MMSE adjusted scores (r = 0.43, p < 0.001). The present study provided normative data for the MoCA in an Italian population useful for both clinical and research purposes.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Santangelo, G., Siciliano, M., Pedone, R., Vitale, C., Falco, F., Bisogno, R., et al. (2015). Normative data for the Montreal Cognitive Assessment in an Italian population sample. Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-014-1995-y
Vancouver
Santangelo G, Siciliano M, Pedone R, Vitale C, Falco F, Bisogno R, et al. Normative data for the Montreal Cognitive Assessment in an Italian population sample. Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology. 2015. doi:10.1007/s10072-014-1995-y. PMID: 25380622.
BibTeX
@article{santangelo2015-25380622,
author = {Santangelo, G. and Siciliano, M. and Pedone, R. and Vitale, C. and Falco, F. and Bisogno, R. and Siano, P. and Barone, P. and others},
title = {{Normative data for the Montreal Cognitive Assessment in an Italian population sample}},
journal = {Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology},
year = {2015},
doi = {10.1007/s10072-014-1995-y},
pmid = {25380622},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-014-1995-y}
}
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Key findings
- Previous studies revealed that certain items of MoCA may be culturally biased and highlighted the need for population-based norms for the MoCA.
- Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that age and education significantly influenced performance on MoCA.
- No significant effect of gender was found.
- Correlation analysis showed a significant but weak correlation between MoCA adjusted scores with MMSE adjusted scores (r = 0.43, p < 0.001).
Why it matters
This study provides normative data for the Montreal Cognitive Assessment in an Italian population and found that age and education significantly influenced performance. It is about interpreting a cognitive screening test, not about treating, curing, or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 46/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Neurological Sciences: journal h-index 113 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2015 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 406 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 31.2 citations a year over 13 year(s) since 2015 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 7 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 150 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Luigi Trojano: h-index 58 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Naples Federico II: institution h-index 862 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 6 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 25380622) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 46 / 100 | — |
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