President Donald Trump has repeatedly boasted about 'acing' a cognitive test, claiming it demonstrates extreme intelligence. However, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) he purportedly took is not an IQ test but a screening tool for early signs of dementia, its creator Dr Ziad Nasreddine has clarified.
In a recent interview with Fox News, Trump challenged host Chris Wallace, who had taken the test himself, asserting that the final five questions were 'very hard' and that Joe Biden could not answer them. Wallace had described the test as easy, citing a section where one identifies a picture of an elephant.
The MoCA, developed in 1996, involves tasks such as drawing a clock, naming animals, repeating sequences, and recalling words. While Trump is correct that initial questions are simple, the latter parts—including counting backwards from 100 in sevens and recalling a string of words—are designed to be manageable for those without cognitive impairment.
Dr Nasreddine stressed that the test is meant to help detect Alzheimer's, not measure intelligence. He noted that it 'is supposed to be easy for someone who has no cognitive impairment.' The test does not assess extreme skill or IQ, contrary to Trump's characterisation.
