Evaluating Cognitive Assessment Tools:A Comparative Analysis of MMSE, RUDAS, SAGE, ADAS and MoCA for Early Dementia Detection

Abstract: Early detection of dementia is very crucial to ensure treatment begins on time, however it is difficult to choose appropriate cognitive assessment tools because each test is designed differently and may not be tailored to the needs of a patient. This review compares five commonly used tests the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS), Self-Administered Gerocognitive Examination (SAGE), Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS), and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Each test has different criteria's and vary in their coverage of cognitive domains. MMSE focuses on memory and language but lacks in the evaluation of executive and visuospatial abilities. RUDAS and SAGE focus on memory, language and visual thinking while ADAS mainly targets memory, executive function and language. The MoCA is most complete as it focuses on areas like attention, memory skills, problem solving and visual skills. This review evaluates how accurate and reliable these tools are to help doctors decide the most efficient tool for diagnosis.