Optimal cutoffs for the Montreal Cognitive Assessment vary by race and ethnicity

INTRODUCTION: The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), scored from 0 to 30, is used as a screening tool for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The current cutoff (26) may not be optimal among minorities. METHODS: Data from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set March 2018 data freeze was used to calculate optimal cutoffs for detection of MCI and dementia by race/ethnic group and education. RESULTS: Of the 3895 individuals included, 80.7% were non-Hispanic White, 15.0% were non-Hispanic Black, and 4.2% were Hispanic. Optimal cutoffs for detection of MCI were 25 among non-Hispanic Whites, 24 among Hispanics, and 23 among non-Hispanic Blacks. Optimal cutoffs for detection of dementia were 19 among non-Hispanic Whites and 16 for both non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics. Lower educational attainment produced lower optimal cutoffs. DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest cutoffs may need to be stratified by race/ethnicity and education to ensure detecting MCI from normal and MCI from dementia.