---
title: "The MoCA test: what it checks and what to expect"
description: "The Montreal Cognitive Assessment is a short clinical screening for memory and thinking problems. What it measures, who gives it, and what a result means."
url: https://seniorchoicecare.com/assess/moca-test/
updated: 2026-10-09
site: Senior Choice Care
---

Explainer

# The MoCA test: what families should know

If a doctor mentions "the MoCA," they mean a brief screening for problems with memory and thinking. It is a starting point for a conversation, not a diagnosis.

**2 minute read** Updated October 9, 2026Written by the Senior Choice Care team

In short

The MoCA, or Montreal Cognitive Assessment, is a short screening that clinicians use to detect mild cognitive impairment and other problems with thinking. It checks short-term memory, visuospatial skills, executive function, attention, language and orientation. A trained professional gives it, and a low score leads to further evaluation, not a diagnosis by itself.

**Written by the Senior Choice Care team** Updated October 9, 2026. Facts are checked against the sources listed at the end of this page. General information; every family is different.

**On this page**

1. [ What the MoCA measures](#s-what-the-moca-measures)
2. [Who gives it](#s-who-gives-it)
3. [What a result means](#s-what-a-result-means)
4. [Before the appointment](#s-before-the-appointment)
5. [Questions families ask](#s-faq)

## What the MoCA measures

The publisher lists the areas it assesses:

- Short-term memory
- Visuospatial abilities
- Executive functions, such as planning
- Attention, concentration and working memory
- Language
- Orientation to time and place

## Who gives it

Nurses, doctors, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, psychologists and researchers use the MoCA. The publisher requires training and certification to administer the paper version. We don't reproduce the test here; it is meant to be given under standard conditions by a trained person.

## What a result means

A screening shows whether more evaluation is worthwhile. The National Institute on Aging notes that dementia is diagnosed by looking at symptoms, history and tests together, and that other conditions can cause memory problems. If the MoCA suggests a problem, ask the doctor what comes next: blood tests, a medication review, imaging or a referral to a specialist.

## Before the appointment

### Questions to ask the doctor

1. Why are you suggesting the MoCA now?
2. What other causes of memory change should we rule out?
3. Will you repeat the test later to look for change?
4. What is the next step if the result is low?

## Questions families ask

### Can I take the MoCA at home?

The publisher offers a separate self-testing tool for the public. The standard MoCA is given by a trained professional, and results should be discussed with a doctor.

### Does a low MoCA score mean dementia?

No. A screening flags possible problems. Diagnosis needs a fuller evaluation, since other conditions can affect memory and thinking.

### How is the MoCA different from the SLUMS?

Both are brief clinical screenings for cognitive problems. The SLUMS comes from Saint Louis University and is designed for adults 60 and older. Your doctor will choose one.

### How often should the MoCA be repeated?

Ask the doctor. Repeating a screening over time can show whether thinking is changing.

## Sources

- [MoCA Cognition (publisher of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment)](https://mocacognition.com/)
- [National Institute on Aging: What is dementia? Symptoms, types and diagnosis](https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-and-dementia/what-dementia-symptoms-types-and-diagnosis)

## Read next

- [Cognitive tests](https://seniorchoicecare.com/assess/cognitive-tests-for-dementia/)
- [SLUMS test](https://seniorchoicecare.com/assess/slums-test/)
- [Signs of dementia](https://seniorchoicecare.com/guides/signs-of-dementia/)
- [Assess](https://seniorchoicecare.com/assess/)

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