The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in a population-based sample of Turkish migrants living in 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.

KEYWORDS:

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

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the following scientists who contributed to and supported the planning process of this feasibility study, in particular to Martin Schlaud and Bärbel-Maria Kurth (Robert Koch-Institute Berlin), Karl-Heinz Jöckel, Susanne Moebus, Börge Schmidt (Essen), Nico Dragano (Düsseldorf), Hajo Zeeb (Bremen), Oliver Razum, Katharina Reiss (Bielefeld) and Julia Fricke (Heidelberg). We are also grateful to the staff of our study centre, in particular to our study doctors Serpil Öcal, MD, Edibe Erol, MD, Martina Hampel, MD, Nina Buttmann, MD, and Malte Joswig, MD and to our study nurse Serpil Dal as well as to Ralf Krause as technical staff.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) of Germany [grant number 01ER1001A-I].