Construct Validity of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)

Abstract

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is a brief instrument developed for the screening of milder forms of cognitive impairment. The present study aims to assess the construct related validity of the MoCA through the establishment of the factorial, convergent, and discriminant related validities, and the reliability of data. In a Portuguese sample of 830 participants, several models were tested using Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Although all tested models showed a good fit, the six-factor model based on the conceptual model proposed by the MoCA's authors showed a significantly better fit. The results allowed us to establish the factorial, convergent, and discriminant validity of this six-dimensional structure. An overall psychometric adequacy of the items, and a good reliability were also found. This study contributes to overcome an important gap in the construct related validity of this instrument. The present findings corroborate the six-dimensional structure of the MoCA and provide good evidence of the construct related validity. The MoCA has proved to be an appropriate measure for cognitive screening taking into account different cognitive domains, which will enable clinicians and researchers to use this test and its six latent dimensions to achieve a better understanding of the individuals' cognitive profile. (JINS, 2012, 18, 242-250)

Psychometric Properties of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA): An Analysis Using the Rasch Model

“…Analysis with the Rasch model of MoCA was validated through previous analyses showing that the data have a good fit to a proposed dominant second order-factor (Freitas, Simões, Marôco, et al, 2012), thus ensuring the assumption of fundamental unidimensionality. In the context of the Rasch model, the unidimensionality test was performed using a principal component analysis of the residuals (Chou and Wang, 2010).…”

“…Some of these studies further emphasize the psychometric characteristics of the instrument (Freitas, Simões, Marôco, Alves & Santana, 2012;, while others primarily focus on specific clinical groups (MCI and AD - Freitas et al, 2013;Frontotemporal dementia -Freitas, Simões, Alves, Duro & Santana, 2012;Vascular dementia -Freitas, Simões, Alves, Vicente & Santana, 2012). The present study was undertaken with the aim of further assessing the psychometric characteristics of the MoCA using the Rasch model for dichotomous items.…”

Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA): Validation Study for Vascular Dementia

“…Given the characteristics of the MoCA (namely the more comprehensive assessment of major cognitive domains as executive function, short-term memory, languages abilities, and visuospatial processing) and the findings of previous studies from our group, we hypothesized that it could capture any difference in the cognitive profile of these clinical groups. In the three validation studies developed by our research group (Freitas, Simões, Marôco, Alves, & Santana, 2012;Freitas, Simões, Alves, Duro, & Santana, manuscript submitted for publication;, the MoCA's sensitivity and discriminant capacity at level of cognitive domains were well-demonstrated. Thus, we believe that the undifferentiated performance founded in this study may reflect the very close cognitive profile between VaD and the AD patients more so than the instrument's inability to capture cognitive profiles.…”

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) as a screening test for cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis

“…Some of these studies further emphasize the psychometric characteristics of the instrument (e.g. Freitas, Simões, Marôco, Alves, & Santana, 2012;Freitas, Prieto, Simões, & Santana, 2014), while others primarily focus on specific clinical groups [e.g., vascular dementia (Freitas, Simões, Alves, Vicente, & Santana, 2012)]. The present study was undertaken with the aim of further validating the MoCA's Portuguese version for a brief assessment of CD in MS patients.…”