Abstraction Administration Quiz

Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)

• Designed to assess mild cognitive dysfunction
• Assesses various cognitive domains:
  • Attention and concentration
  • Executive functions
  • Memory
  • Language
  • Visuoconstructional skills
  • Conceptual thinking
  • Calculations
  • Orientation

Administration and Scoring

• Can be administered by anyone who understands the instructions
• Only a health professional with expertise in the cognitive field may interpret the results
• Takes approximately 10 minutes to administer
• Total possible score: 30 points
• Score of 26 or above is considered normal
• All instructions may be repeated once

Tasks and Scoring

• Alternating Trail Making: Draw a line from a number to a letter in ascending order (1 point for correct pattern)
• Visuoconstructional Skills (Cube): Draw a cube accurately (1 point for correct drawing)
• Visuoconstructional Skills (Clock): Draw a clock with numbers and set the time to 10 past 11 (1 point for each of three criteria: contour, numbers, and hands)
• Naming: Identify three animals (lion, rhinoceros, and camel) (1 point for each correct response)
• Memory: Recall a list of five words (scored later in the test)
• Attention:
  • Forward Digit Span: Repeat a five-number sequence (1 point for correct repetition)
  • Backward Digit Span: Repeat a three-number sequence in reverse order (1 point for correct repetition)
  • Vigilance: Tap hand when the letter "A" is read (1 point for 0-1 errors)
  • Serial 7s: Subtract 7 from 100 and continue subtracting 7 (scored out of 3)
• Sentence Repetition: Repeat two sentences exactly (1 point for each correct repetition)
• Verbal Fluency: Generate words starting with the letter F (1 point for 11 or more words in 60 seconds)
• Abstraction: Identify the category of two words (e.g., train and bicycle) (1 point for each correct response)
• Delayed Recall: Recall the list of five words from earlier in the test (scored later)
• Orientation: Identify the date, month, year, and day of the week, as well as the name of the place and city (1 point for each correct response)

Memory Index Score (MIS)

• Scored out of 15 points
• Based on the delayed recall task
• Points allocated according to the type of recall:
  • Uncued recall: 3 points
  • Cued recall: 2 points
  • Multiple-choice recall: 1 point### Visuoconstructional Skills
• The subject is given a drawing task to assess their visuoconstructional skills
• The task involves drawing a chair and a clock
• The chair drawing must be three-dimensional, with all lines drawn, meeting with little or no space, and no lines added
• The clock drawing must have a contour, numbers, and hands
• The contour must be drawn, with only minor distortions accepted
• All clock numbers must be present, in the correct order, and arranged in a circular manner
• The hands must be centered within the clock face, indicating the correct time

Naming

• The subject is shown three animal figures and asked to name them
• One point is given for each correct answer
• The three correct answers are: snake (or a type of snake), elephant, and crocodile (or alligator)

Memory

• The subject is given a list of five words to remember
• The list is read once, and the subject is asked to recall as many words as possible
• The list is read again, and the subject is asked to recall as many words as possible, including words recalled previously
• No points are given for the first two trials
• The subject is informed that they will be asked to recall the words again at the end of the test

Attention

• The subject is given a sequence of numbers to repeat in the same order
• The sequence is read at a rate of one digit per second
• One point is given for each sequence correctly repeated
• The subject is also given a sequence of letters, and asked to tap their hand every time the letter "A" is read
• One point is given if there is zero to one error
• The subject is also given a task to count by subtracting 7 from 70, and then, keep subtracting 7 from their answer until told to stop
• The task is scored out of 3 points, with 1 point given for one correct subtraction, 2 points for two or three correct subtractions, and 3 points for four or five correct subtractions

Sentence Repetition

• The subject is given two sentences to repeat
• One point is given for each sentence correctly repeated
• Repetitions must be exact, with no omissions, substitutions, additions, or grammar errors

Verbal Fluency

• The subject is asked to generate as many words as possible that begin with the letter "S"
• The task is timed for 60 seconds
• One point is given if the subject generates 11 words or more

Abstraction

• The subject is given four pairs of words and asked to explain what they have in common
• The pairs of words are: orange and banana, bed and table, letter and telephone
• One point is given for each pair correctly answered
• Acceptable answers include: fruits, furniture, and means of communication
• Unacceptable answers include: flat, four legs, bedroom, made out of wood, alphabet, and news

Delayed Recall

• The subject is asked to recall the five words from the memory task earlier
• One point is given for each word correctly recalled
• If the subject is unable to recall a word, a category cue is given, and then a multiple-choice cue if necessary

Memory Index Score

• The Memory Index Score (MIS) is calculated by attributing points according to the type of recall
• Points are given as follows: 3 points for spontaneous recall, 2 points for recall with a category cue, and 1 point for recall with a multiple-choice cue
• The total MIS is calculated by adding all points

Orientation

• The subject is asked to give today's date, including the year, month, exact date, and day of the week
• One point is given for each item correctly answered
• The subject is also asked to name the place they are in, and the city it is in
• One point is given for each item correctly answered