Online training and certification is available for the 30-question Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) used to detect the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s and other cognitive disorders.
“Our goal has always been to offer the most advanced screening tools for the earliest detection of cognitive disorders,” MoCA test inventor and neurologist Dr. Ziad Nasreddine said in a news release. “Research has shown additional training to be helpful in reducing common administration errors and improving standardization, which limits risks for clinicians and patients, and improves quality of care.”
The test, which usually takes about 10 minutes to complete, is available in paper and digital formats and is widely used in clinical, research, and senior care settings across the globe. MoCA said more than 500 peer-reviewed studies have shown its test to be more sensitive and accurate than other commonly used assessments, including the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE).
MoCA established the one-hour training and certification to help healthcare providers, professional associations and organizations increase test administration proficiency and limit risks associated with improper scoring, the organization said. The certification is free for students, faculty members, and academic researchers.
The training and certification module is available at mocatest.org. Free MoCA assessment page downloads include variations for hearing or visual impairment, low education level, and telemedicine. MoCA also has an app with automatic scoring, storing of results and uploading simple electronic health records.
