Assessing Capacity in the Elderly: Comparing the MoCA with a Novel Computerized Battery of Executive Function

Background/Aims: Clinicians are increasingly being asked to provide their opinion on the decision-making capacity of older adults, while validated and widely available tools are lacking. We sought to identify an online cognitive screening tool for assessing mental capacity through the measurement of executive function. Methods: A mixed elderly sample of 45 individuals, aged 65 years and older, were screened with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the modified Cambridge Brain Sciences Battery. Results: Two computerized tests from the Cambridge Brain Sciences Battery were shown to provide information over and above that obtained with a standard cognitive screening tool, correctly sorting the majority of individuals with borderline MoCA scores. Conclusions: The brief computerized battery should be used in conjunction with standard tests such as the MoCA in order to differentiate cognitively intact from cognitively impaired older adults.

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Independent Older Adult’s IADL and Executive Function According to Cognitive Performance

OTJR Occupation Participation and Health ◽

10.1177/1539449220905813 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 40 (3) ◽

pp. 183-189

Author(s):

Orit Lahav ◽

Noomi Katz

Keyword(s):

Executive Function ◽

Cognitive Assessment ◽

Daily Living ◽

Screening Tool ◽

Cognitive Screening ◽

Female Age ◽

Gender And Age ◽

Cognitive Levels ◽

And Gender ◽

Independent Elderly

Participation in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) is essential in occupational therapy aiming to improve the life situation of elderly. Effective executive function (EF) is important to successful functioning in IADL. The purpose of this study was to examine EF and IADL performance differences according to cognitive levels as measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), age, and gender. In all, 80 elderly (49% female; age M = 73.4) were assessed at home, with Weekly Calendar Planning Activity (WCPA-10), IADL scale, and MoCA as a cognitive screening tool for dividing into normal cognitive (NC) level and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The comparison between the MoCA groups on the WCPA-10 and IADL shows significant differences between the groups; gender and age differed only in IADL. IADL and WCPA-10 performance among independent elderly relates to their cognitive level. We suggest that intervention that will focus on EF may assist in improving performance and maintaining participation in occupation.

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Cognitive screening of older adults: the utility of pentagon drawing

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610212001998 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 25 (3) ◽

pp. 413-419 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Edward Helmes

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Cognitively Impaired ◽

Point System ◽

Cognitive Screening ◽

Verbal Tasks ◽

Bender Gestalt Test ◽

Cognitively Intact ◽

State Examination

ABSTRACTBackground: Drawing tests have a long history in neuropsychological assessment. A popular geometric figure has been the two intersecting pentagons from the Bender Gestalt test. Reproducing the pentagons is the main visuospatial task on the original Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), remaining in use in revised versions of that widely used screening test. Scoring criteria on the MMSE are binary: perfect reproduction of the figure is required, while the Modified MMSE of Teng and Chui (1987) uses a more refined ten-point scoring for the elements of the figure.Methods: Here, I report on the use of pentagon drawing from 8,702 older community-dwelling Canadians (59.3% female), with a mean age of 75.5 years (SD = 6.99) and 10.1 years of education (SD = 3.89). Mean scores for the whole sample are reported, as well as for subsamples who underwent a full clinical assessment and were diagnosed as cognitively intact, with dementia, or cognitively impaired, but without dementia. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the utility of pentagon drawing as a diagnostic tool to diagnose cognitive impairment.Results: Binary scoring was less effective in discriminating groups than the ten-point system and showed weaker properties by other criteria.Conclusions: The discussion focuses on the role of simple, non-verbal tasks in the cognitive screening of older adults.

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The Colorado Cognitive Assessment (CoCA): Development of an Advanced Neuropsychological Screening Tool

10.31234/osf.io/tqckr ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Ashita S. Gurnani ◽

Shayne S.-H. Lin ◽

Brandon E Gavett

Keyword(s):

Construct Validity ◽

Psychometric Properties ◽

Cognitive Assessment ◽

Screening Tool ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Internal Consistency Reliability ◽

Screening Tests ◽

Cognitive Screening ◽

Analysis Model ◽

Factor Analysis Model

Objective: The Colorado Cognitive Assessment (CoCA) was designed to improve upon existing screening tests in a number of ways, including enhanced psychometric properties and minimization of bias across diverse groups. This paper describes the initial validation study of the CoCA, which seeks to describe the test; demonstrate its construct validity; measurement invariance to age, education, sex, and mood symptoms; and compare it to the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Method: Participants included 151 older adults (MAge = 71.21, SD = 8.05) who were administered the CoCA, MoCA, Judgment test from the Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (NAB), 15-item version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), and 10-item version of the Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS-10). Results: A single factor confirmatory factor analysis model of the CoCA fit the data well, CFI = 0.955; RMSEA = 0.033. The CoCA’s internal consistency reliability was .84, compared to .74 for the MoCA. The CoCA had stronger disattenuated correlations with the MoCA (r = .79) and NAB Judgment (r = .47) and weaker correlations with the GDS-15 (r = -.36) and GAS-10 (r = -.15), supporting its construct validity. Finally, when analyzed using multiple indicators, multiple causes (MIMIC) modeling, the CoCA showed no evidence of measurement non-invariance, unlike the MoCA. Conclusions: These results provide initial evidence to suggest that the CoCA is a valid cognitive screening tool that offers numerous advantages over the MoCA, including superior psychometric properties and measurement non-invariance. Additional validation and normative studies are warranted.

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VALIDATION OF THE IDEA COGNITIVE SCREENING TOOL FOR OLDER ADULTS IN HOSPITAL INPATIENT, OUTPATIENT AND RURAL COMMUNITY SETTINGS IN TANZANIA

Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry ◽

10.1136/jnnp-2015-311750.28 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 86 (9) ◽

pp. e3.21-e3

Author(s):

SM Paddick ◽

WK Gray ◽

C Dotchin ◽

A Kisoli ◽

G Mbowe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Rural Community ◽

Screening Tool ◽

Hospital Inpatient ◽

Cognitive Screening ◽

Community Settings

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Translation and adaption of short version of IQCODE into Hausa and its psychometric evaluation among outpatients older adults

The Journal of Mental Health Training Education and Practice ◽

10.1108/jmhtep-03-2021-0031 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Tolulope Adeniji ◽

Adetoyeje Y. Oyeyemi

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Older Adult ◽

Internal Consistency ◽

Screening Tool ◽

Receiver Operating Curve ◽

Cognitive Screening ◽

Cronbach’S Alpha ◽

Cognitive Changes ◽

Content Type ◽

Cronbach's Alpha

Purpose This study aims at translating and adapting a common and widely used proxy rated cognitive screening tool – Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE) into Hausa language and also to evaluate the instrument’s psychometric properties. Design/methodology/approach IQCODE was translated and adapted using a qualitative process involving experts and the adapted version was then evaluated against a gold standard (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder V criteria for neurocognitive disorders) with older adults subjects (N = 100), while its reliability (internal consistency) was also evaluated. Descriptive statistics of mean and frequencies, and inferential statistic of receiver operating curve analysis and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient were used for data analysis at an alpha level set at 0.05. Findings The Hausa IQCODE has a sensitivity value of 73.3%, specificity value of 71.8% and optimal cut-off values of between 3.2 and 3.3. For his adapted instrument the area under the Curve (AUC) curve is 0.79 (95% CI: 0.663–0.919; std. err: 0.066; P = 0.000), and Cronbach’s alpha value of 0.819 was obtained indicating that the adapted instrument has good internal consistency. Research limitations/implications The adapted IQCODE is a valid and reliable proxy based cognitive screening tool for the older adult Hausa speakers in Maiduguri. However, clinician and researcher might want to consider different optimal cut-off points when using this tool to screen or to monitor cognitive changes among older adults. Originality/value This research paper translated and adapted Hausa IQCODE into Hausa language. And it gives information on the validity and reliability of the adapted tool alongside with new optimal cut-off for cognitive screening by proxy among older adult patients in Nigeria.

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Gerontechnology: Providing a Helping Hand When Caring for Cognitively Impaired Older Adults—Intermediate Results from a Controlled Study on the Satisfaction and Acceptance of Informal Caregivers

Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research ◽

10.1155/2012/401705 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-19 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Anelia Mitseva ◽

Carrie Beth Peterson ◽

Christina Karamberi ◽

Lamprini Ch. Oikonomou ◽

Athanasios V. Ballis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Assistive Technology ◽

User Satisfaction ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Real Life ◽

The Elderly ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Cognitively Impaired ◽

Current Standard ◽

System Acceptance

The incidence of cognitive impairment in older age is increasing, as is the number of cognitively impaired older adults living in their own homes. Due to lack of social care resources for these adults and their desires to remain in their own homes and live as independently as possible, research shows that the current standard care provisions are inadequate. Promising opportunities exist in using home assistive technology services to foster healthy aging and to realize the unmet needs of these groups of citizens in a user-centered manner. ISISEMD project has designed, implemented, verified, and assessed an assistive technology platform of personalized home care (telecare) for the elderly with cognitive impairments and their caregivers by offering intelligent home support services. Regions from four European countries have carried out long-term pilot-controlled study in real-life conditions. This paper presents the outcomes from intermediate evaluations pertaining to user satisfaction with the system, acceptance of the technology and the services, and quality of life outcomes as a result of utilizing the services.

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