Comparative assessment of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) and Minimental State Examination (MMSE) in apolipoprotein E (APOE) ɛ4 allele carriers in epilepsy

Abstract

Background/Aim Mini mental state examination (MMSE) is a widely accepted tool till date to investigate cognitive status; however, its sensitivity is questioned by few studies. Alternately, Montreal cognitive assessment (MOCA) is considered more effective with high sensitivity to assess cognitive status than MMSE. The usefulness of MOCA is well established in assessing cognitive status in patients in various disorders. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ɛ4 allele is identified as one of the risk factors associated with cognitive impairment on MMSE; however, the usefulness of MOCA on the association between APOE ɛ4 allele and cognitive impairment is not clearly established and hence the present study.

Methods This prospective study recruited 123 subjects diagnosed as tonic-clonic seizures in the study site during the study period.

Results Gender and educational status showed normal cognitive function on MMSE but showed cognitive impairment on MOCA. Among epilepsy patients, all APOE ɛ4 carriers showed mild to severe cognitive impairment on MOCA but differences in cognitive status were observed in this population as well as in APOE ɛ4 non-carriers on MMSE.

Conclusion Thus, the present study demonstrates the sensitivity of MOCA over MMSE in detecting cognitive impairment in epilepsy.

Keywords

Cognition - Epilepsy - MMSE - MOCA - APOE

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