


The threshold for gauging any sort of dysfunction is so low, according to LeMonda, that the tests don’t give too much insight into what’s going on. Past research suggests they shouldn’t be used alone to diagnose neurodegenerative disorders. “There are standardized scores for these tests, which illuminate if an impairment in one or more cognitive domains is significant and warrants further testing and treatment planning,” said Sarah McEwen, PhD, director of research and programming for the Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center. Screening tests are mostly used to quickly determine whether someone has any brain dysfunction and if they need additional diagnostic testing. The Mini-Cog and MMSE are two other quick screening tests used to determine whether someone’s cognition may be off due to a health issue like dementia, delirium, stroke, or even a head injury.īrittany LeMonda, PhD, a senior neuropsychologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, says these sorts of tests are often administered in hospital settings by a nurse or physician who may not always have a background in brain sciences. The MoCA typically takes around 10 minutes and involves simplistic tasks designed to screen for impairment in an individual. What are cognitive screening tests, like the MoCA?
