Cognitive function in generally healthy adults age 70 years and older in the 5-country DO-HEALTH study: MMSE and MoCA scores by sex, education and country

Abstract

Background

Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) are validated and frequently used screening tools for cognitive function.

Aims

To present MMSE and MoCA scores by sex, age and education among community-dwelling older adults.

Methods

This is a post-hoc observational analysis using data from the DO-HEALTH trial, which included generally healthy adults (≥ 70 years) from Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, and Portugal who scored at least 24 points on the MMSE at baseline. We present MMSE and MoCA scores overall and by country, sex, age (70–74 years, ≥ 75 years), education (≤ and > median education years).

Results

2151 DO-HEALTH participants (mean age 74.9 years, 57% aged 70–74 years, 62% women) were included. The median (IQR) years of education was 12 (10–15), median MMSE score was 29 (28–30) and median MoCA score was 26 (23–28) points. In subgroups by sex, age, and education, the median MMSE score remained 29 for all subgroups, except for participants with shorter education (≤ 12 years) and higher age (≥ 75), who scored 28 points. For MoCA, the median score in subgroups ranged from 24 to 27 points. Participants with shorter education (≤ 12 years) and higher age (≥ 75) had lowest scores (men 24, women 25 points).

Conclusions

We provide MMSE and MoCA scores for generally healthy, community-dwelling older adults from Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France and Portugal. The median MMSE and MoCA scores differed with age and education, and – less consistently – with sex.

Trial registration

International Trials Registry (clinicaltrials.gov; registration ID: NCT01745263), registered December 2012.