Objective:

In this study, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test was applied in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Hippocampal volumes were compared between healthy controls and patients with MCI. Scores of MORBID scales and cognitive level were compared among patients with MCI to investigate if there is a correlation. We aimed to investigate the availability of the test on the diagnosis.

Methods:

This study included 25 healthy controls and 25 patients diagnosed with MCI according to the Petersen criteria. Detailed neurological examination was performed. MoCA and Standardized Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) were used in the patient group, whereas MMSE was used in all participants. To all exhibitors cranial magnetic resonance imaging was performed. Right and left hippocampal volumes were calculated using special volumetric three-dimentional T1-weighted inversion recovery sequence. Neuropsychological test results and hippocampal volumes were compared between the patient and control groups.

Results:

There were significant differences in hippocampal volumes and MMSE scores between the HBB patient and control groups (p<0.001, p=0.011, p=0.014). We found a significant relationship between MoCA average test score and left hippocampal volume with correlation analysis (p=0.013).

Conclusion:

As a result, hippocampal volume markedly decreased in patients with MCI compared with that in the healthy control group; we found that hippocampal volume reduction is proportional to MoCA scores. These findings suggest that MoCA scores were correlated with cognitive level in MCI and suggests the usefulness of the test in the diagnosis of MCI.

Keywords: Mild cognitive impairment, Montreal cognitive assessment test, magnetic resonance imaging