A recently published study of cognitive impairment (CI) among older prisoners held by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) showed that over 35%—more than 1 in 3—suffered from some form of CI.
The study used a random and representative sample of 143 of the state’s 20,202 prisoners aged 55 and over at the time; their mean age was 61.3. Each participant took the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a screening tool which involved a 15-minute interview with a masters-level psychologist. The MoCA has “high sensitivity for the detection of MCI [mild cognitive impairment] and dementia, especially in persons with low formal education,” the study report noted. Scores under 23 indicated CI while those under 18 indicated dementia, under MoCA scoring guidelines.
The results also showed that 9.1% of TDCJ participants “met the threshold for dementia.” Blacks, Hispanics and those suffering from serious depression “had a higher prevalence of a positive screen for MCI or dementia.” Alarmingly, only 15.4% of those who screened positive for dementia had a prior diagnosis of dementia in their medical records, indicating a severe under diagnosis of dementia among Texas prisoners.
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