Translation and Validation of the Thai Version of the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status and the Mini Montreal Cognitive Assessment in Older Adults

TL;DR

This study translated and validated two cognitive screening tools for older Thai adults, finding that both are reliable and effective, with one performing slightly better for detecting cognitive issues.

Contribution

The study provides culturally adapted Thai versions of TICS and Mini MoCA with demonstrated reliability and validity for cognitive screening in older adults.

Findings

Both TICS-Thai and Mini MoCA-Thai showed excellent test-retest and inter-rater reliability.

Mini MoCA-Thai outperformed TICS-Thai in detecting mild cognitive impairment and dementia.

Both tools are practical for brief, phone-based cognitive screening in Thai community settings.

Abstract

This study aimed to translate and validate the telephone interview for cognitive status (TICS) and the mini montreal cognitive assessment (Mini MoCA) for use in older Thai adults and to compare their diagnostic validity for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia.

A total of 149 participants—51 cognitively normal (CN), 49 with MCI, and 49 with dementia—were enrolled. Diagnoses were based on DSM‐5 criteria and the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), determined by a senior geriatric neurologist. Participants also completed the MMSE‐2, MoCA, NPI‐Q, and ADL assessments, administered by certified psychologists and a geriatric nurse. The TICS and Mini MoCA were administered by two independent, blinded clinicians within four weeks of the initial evaluation. Test‐retest reliability was assessed after two weeks. Validity and reliability analyses included content and construct validity, and inter‐rater/test‐retest reliability.

Mean age and education were comparable across groups. Both TICS and Mini MoCA scores correlated significantly with standard cognitive and functional measures. Test‐retest and inter‐rater reliability were excellent (ICC = 0.933 and 0.995 for TICS; 0.918 and 0.998 for Mini MoCA). For discriminating CN from dementia, sensitivity/specificity were 81.3%/81.2% (AUC = 0.883) for TICS and 87.5%/89.6% (AUC = 0.958) for Mini MoCA. For CN vs. MCI, Mini MoCA (AUC = 0.755) performed slightly better than TICS (AUC = 0.693). Average administration times were 8.7 and 4.4 min, respectively.

TICS and Mini MoCA are valid, reliable tools for cognitive screening in older Thai adults, with Mini MoCA showing slightly superior performance.

Mini MoCA‐Thai and TICS‐Thai, culturally adapted for older adults, showed high reliability and strong validity. Mini MoCA‐Thai performed slightly better for detecting MCI and dementia, and both tools are practical for brief, phone‐based cognitive screening in Thai community settings.

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