What are common reasons for false positives in MoCA scoring?

The common reasons for false positives in MoCA scoring are often related to external factors that can influence a person's performance during the testing process. Anxiety and distraction can significantly affect an individual's ability to focus and think clearly, which may lead to an inaccurate assessment of their cognitive abilities. In a testing environment, if a person is anxious or distracted—whether due to environmental noise, stressful thoughts, or other concerns—they may struggle to recall information, perform tasks, or think through the questions as fully as they might under calmer conditions. This can result in scores that suggest cognitive impairment even if the individual has normal cognitive function.

On the other hand, excessive practice before the test might lead to improved performance, while behavioral impacts of medication could result in lower scores. An inadequate understanding of instructions can lead to confusion and misinterpretation of tasks but does not specifically relate to the common causes of false positives. Therefore, anxiety or distraction most directly align with the context of false positives in MoCA scoring.