Which assessment method requires about 10 minutes to administer for cognitive dysfunction?

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is designed to assess a range of cognitive abilities and typically requires around 10 minutes to administer. It evaluates several cognitive domains, including attention, memory, language, visuospatial skills, and executive functions. This brief yet comprehensive assessment is useful for detecting mild cognitive impairment and can be an effective tool in both clinical and research settings.

In contrast, while the other assessments mentioned are valuable for evaluating cognitive function, they either take more time or focus on different aspects. For example, the Mini-Cog, which includes a simple recall task and a clock-drawing task, is quicker but may not be as comprehensive as the MoCA. The Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE), while widely used, typically takes longer than 10 minutes due to its thoroughness in assessing cognitive impairment. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) primarily screens for depression and does not focus on cognitive dysfunction. Thus, the MoCA stands out for its efficiency and scope in assessing cognitive health within a brief time frame.