Aging and Mental Health
Volume 23, Issue 1, 2019, Pages 30-37

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in a population-based sample of Turkish migrants living in Germany (Article) (Open Access)

Krist L.* , Keller T. , Sebald L. , Yesil-Jürgens R. , Ellert U. , Reich A. , Becher H. , Heuschmann P.U. , Willich S.N. , Keil T. , Liman T.G.
  • a Institute For Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • b Institute For Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • c Institute For Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • d Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Robert Koch-Institute Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • e Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Robert Koch-Institute Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • f Institute For Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • g Institute for Medical Biometry an Epidemiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
  • h Institute of Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
  • i Institute For Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • j Institute For Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • k Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany, Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Abstract

Objectives: Data on cognitive testing in migrants in Germany are scarce. We aimed to evaluate the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in Turkish migrants in Berlin and its association with demographics and health-related variables. Method: For this cross-sectional study, a random sample of persons with Turkish names was drawn from the registration-office. Cognitive function was assessed using the MoCA; 0 = worst, 30 = best total score. Multivariable linear regression models were calculated to determine associated factors with the total MoCA-score. Results: In our analyses we included 282 participants (50% female), mean age 42.3 ± 11.9 years (mean ± standard deviation (SD)). The mean ± SD MoCA score was 23.3 ± 4.3. In the multivariable analysis, higher education (ß = 2.68; p < 0.001), and chosing the German version of the MoCA (ß = –1.13; p = 0.026), were associated with higher MoCA-scores, whereas higher age (ß = –0.08; p = 0.002) was associated with lower MoCA scores. Conclusion: In our study, a higher educational level, lower age, and German as the preferred test language (as compared to Turkish) were positively associated with the cognitive performance of Berliners with Turkish roots. To examine neurocognitive health of migrants, longitudinal population-based and clinical cohort studies that specifically compare migrants and their descendants with the original population of their home countries are required. © 2017, © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Author Keywords

Population-based Mild cognitive impairment Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Turkish migrants

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85034809943&doi=10.1080%2f13607863.2017.1396577&partnerID=40&md5=3af94f0b25a9fdcc464c4217b09bb17c
DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2017.1396577
ISSN: 13607863
Original Language: English