Our Founder

As a young person escaping a war-torn nation, Ziad Nasreddine came to North America. About a decade later, he completed medical school at the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec, Canada. Dr. Nasreddine later completed a fellowship in Cognitive Neurology/Neurobehavior at UCLA and became a board-certified Neurologist.

In 1992, during his residency, Dr. Nasreddine recognized the need for a more comprehensive cognitive screening tool that could better serve clinical settings. He began the journey of creating his own, more efficient, and complete test. In 2005, Dr. Nasreddine finished validation of the first version of a more specialized assessment that could directly support hospitals and specialty clinics with high volume of patients: the Montreal Cognitive Assessment—or MoCA.

Along with his continued dedication to patients at his memory clinic, Dr. Nasreddine leads MoCA Cognition, a research and innovation-focused company driven to deliver the next generation of cognitive screening solutions.

 

The MoCA Test

MoCA is a brief, 30-question test that helps healthcare professionals detect cognitive impairments very early on, allowing for faster diagnosis and patient care. MoCA is the most sensitive test available for detecting Alzheimer’s disease, measuring executive functions and multiple cognitive domains which are important components not measured by the MMSE.

From 1992 to 2000, MoCA went through many versions and adaptations before it was first validated in 2000 on a consecutive group of subjects that were referred to a memory clinic. All subjects were classified as cognitively intact or impaired based on a gold standard neuropsychological assessment. MoCA performance to distinguish the two groups was excellent.

In 2003, after analysis of the 2000 study results, a few elements of the test were optimized, and a new validation study was completed in 2003-2004, which confirmed the test’s discriminatory ability to distinguish Normal controls, from subjects with Mild Cognitive Impairment or Mild Alzheimer’s disease [1].

Today, MoCA’s superior sensitivity and accuracy for detecting MCI has been demonstrated in over 2,000 studies. The original MoCA—along with new validated digital and paper versions—is used around the world, in over 100 languages and dialects.

 

MoCA Research & Innovation leverages the extensive patient population of the MoCA Clinic to host numerous clinical trials that test the efficacity of novel treatments. This center provides abundant opportunities for patients to access the most advanced pharmacological treatment options, while receiving personalized support for their condition.

We are constantly onboarding patients who fit the inclusion criteria for our multiple ongoing studies. Clinical trials are generally in phase 2 or 3 and focused on Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment. With the support of our clinical nurses, technicians, and assistants, the medications being studied can be administered intravenously, subcutaneously, transdermally, orally or by other method.

 

MoCA Clinic

MoCA Clinic is a high volume, high efficiency memory clinic that welcomes over 2,000 patients each year, along with their family members and aids. Operating since 1996, the robust clinic includes neurologists, geriatricians, GPs with expertise in geriatric medicine, RNs, occupational therapists, neuropsychologists, coordinators, assistants, and researchers.

For seniors with memory complaints or early diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease, the clinic offers consultation, supportive treatment, guidance, and access to research studies for new medication trials.

MoCA Cognition
4896 Taschereau Blvd Suite 230
Greenfield Park, Québec
Canada J4V 2J2