ADI is pleased to invite MoCA Cognition, a Canadian company led by Dr. Nasreddine, focused on research and innovation of cognitive assessments grounded in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), to share their recent case study of a newly developed tool: MoCA-Xpresso. The tool highlights encouraging data that demonstrates how diagnostic screening tools could enable greater engagement between medical practitioners and those seeking an early diagnosis. Read MoCA Cognition’s case study below:
Conversations about brain health often start too late. Many people notice changes in memory or thinking but are unsure whether these are part of normal ageing or something they should discuss with a healthcare professional. Others may feel hesitant to raise concerns.
ADI’s 2024 World Alzheimer Report revealed that 80% of the general public around the world still consider dementia itself to be a normal part of ageing, highlighting how myths, stigma and discrimination surrounding dementia can hinder a person’s agency in seeking an early diagnosis.
Creating simple, accessible ways to start conversations around dementia and diagnosis are becoming an important part of the evolving landscape, a landscape accented with new blood tests (blood-based biomarkers) that are being presently introduced and integrated, advancements in cerebrospinal fluid testing, digital biomarkers in practice as well as promising innovations in online and at home cognitive testing.
The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was developed by Dr Ziad Nasreddine to support the detection of mild cognitive impairment in clinical settings. Building on this work, our team has explored how digital tools can encourage earlier awareness and discussion in everyday life, while keeping the focus on education and engagement rather than diagnosis.
In March 2024, MoCA Cognition launched XpressO, a brief self-assessment platform designed for the general public. The aim is not to replace clinical evaluation, but to help people reflect on their cognitive health and, where appropriate, feel more confident speaking with a healthcare professional.
Since launch, the platform has grown rapidly, revealing insightful data:
- Of data collected from over 150,000 completed tests
- Approximately 40% US, 60% international
- Interestingly, many users return to the platform more than once, suggesting that people value the opportunity to monitor their cognitive performance over time.
- Over 30% of registered user complete multiple tests.
- Feedback from users has also been encouraging. In post-assessment surveys, a high proportion report that the experience helped them better understand their brain health and increased their willingness to discuss results with a healthcare professional.
- Over 85% of users considered the tool helpful
- Over 70% expressed willingness to discuss results with their healthcare professional
Beyond engagement, aggregated and anonymised data have offered insights consistent with broader research. For example, the proportion of lower performance scores closely mirrors known population prevalence rates of mild cognitive impairment across age groups. This alignment suggests that digital self-assessment tools, when carefully designed, may reflect real-world cognitive patterns at a population level.
MoCA Cognition also observed that, on average, women and individuals with higher levels of education tend to achieve higher scores. These findings are consistent with existing research on cognitive testing and cognitive reserve, and reinforce the importance of interpreting any single result in context.
In 2025, the platform was expanded to include MoCA-CHAI (cognitive health assessment index), a lifestyle-focused questionnaire exploring factors linked to brain health, such as physical activity, sleep, cardiovascular health and social engagement. Early findings suggest that higher CHAI scores, reflecting healthier lifestyle patterns, are associated with fewer lower cognitive performance scores on the self-assessment. In fact, for every point extra scored on the CHAI then the probability of scoring red on the XpressO is 1% lower
While digital tools cannot diagnose dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, they may play a role in normalising conversations about cognitive health. By offering accessible entry points, they can encourage people to seek timely medical advice where needed and to reflect on modifiable risk factors linked to brain health.
As the diagnostics sector continues to evolve, combining public awareness, responsible digital innovation and clinical expertise will be essential. Supporting people to live well, and to seek guidance early when concerns arise, remains at the heart of that effort.
ADI has recently brought together leading experts in this field to discuss the current diagnostics revolution in two events, The 2025 End of Year Forecast, and a 2026 open webinar, ‘The diagnostics revolution is now!’. Learn more about the diagnostics revolution that is taking place today. Learn more through our online resources.
ADI looks forward to continuing to shine a light on this important topic at our upcoming conference in Lyon, France, taking place from 14-16 April, and beyond in 2026. Watch out for our announcement of the 2026 World Alzheimer’s Month campaign, this year taking inspiration from the many innovations taking place in the diagnostics sector.