Introducing the Mini-ACE

The New Zealand version of the Mini-ACE is a shorter version of the New Zealand version of the ACE-III. The ACE-III is commonly used in specialist dementia services. 

The New Zealand Mini-ACE has been made available without charge for use by New Zealand health professionals. It can be downloaded below.

The Mini-ACE is a brief cognitive screening test that evaluates four main cognitive areas (orientation, memory, language and visuospatial function). 

The Mini-ACE recommended screening tool for use by primary care and non-specialist dementia services in New Zealand. It replaces the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA©).

It was chosen for three main reasons: 
•    Time: it takes around five minutes to complete
•    Ease of use: it is straight forward and easy to use
•    Ease of transition: it is free and uses familiar testing techniques.

Like the MoCA©, the Mini-ACE test is only part of the process of diagnosing dementia. 

• First-time users of Mini-ACE should undertake the New Zealand online training module. 
• The training module is available on regional Te Whatu Ora and Manatū Hauora - Ministry of Health learning platforms. 
• The training includes videos and takes about 30 to 60 minutes to complete.
• Once the training package has been completed, and the quiz answered with 100% accuracy, a certificate of completion will be provided automatically. 
• Before starting the training module, download a copy of the Mini-ACE version A and the administration guide from this site. 
• If you encounter any difficulties accessing your learning platform, please see the frequently asked questions section below.

The training module is available on the following learning platforms:

LearnOnline 

This Manatū Hauora - Ministry of Health learning hub is available across New Zealand and can be accessed easily by registering. If searching for the module you can type 'Mini-ACE' or ‘cognitive’ in the search tool.

Ko Awatea LEARN

This learning hub is available to the following Te Whatu Ora regions and organisations: Te Whatu Ora Northland; Te Whatu Ora Waitematā; Te Whatu Ora Auckland ; The University of Auckland; Auckland University of Technology; Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau; Middlemore Clinical Trials; Manukau Institute of Technology; Te Whatu Ora Waikato; Te Whatu Ora Lakes District ; Hauora Tairawhiti Health Alliance; Te Whatu Ora Hawkes Bay; Te Whatu Ora Taranaki; Te Whatu Ora Whanganui; Te Whatu Ora MidCentral; Te Whatu Ora Wairarapa; Te Whatu Ora Nelson Marlborough; Te Whatu Ora Southern; Health Benefits Limited; Health Quality & Safety Commission; Ministry of Health.

Te Whariki a Toi

This is the learning hub for Te Whatu Ora Bay of Plenty.

ConnectME

This is the Te Whatu Ora Capital Coast Hutt Valley learning hub.

healthLearn

This is the learning hub for Te Whatu Ora Canterbury, West Coast, South Canterbury and Southern , as well as over 200 independent organisations across the South Island including Aged Residential Care (ARC) facilities, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), Primary Health Organisations (PHOs) and contractors. You can easily find the module by typing ‘Mini-ACE’ or ‘cognitive’ in the Search courses field on the healthLearn home page.

The New Zealand Mini-ACE English language test and the administration and scoring guide can be downloaded below. 

You should always refer to the guide when you administer and score the Mini-ACE.

The Mini-ACE has three versions (A, B and C) to help avoid learning effects in longitudinal monitoring. The only difference is the name and address of the memory item. 

NZ Mini-ACE Version A

NZ Mini-ACE Version B

NZ Mini-ACE Version C

Administration and Scoring Guide
 

The diagnostic suite for mate wareware for use with Māori whānau is called the MANA  — the Māori Assessment of Neuropsychological Abilities suite of tools. The MANA was developed in research led by Māori for Māori. Over 400 kaumātua contributed to the development of the MANA suite and the cognitive assessment tool was validated on 92 Māori. The MANA  is not simply a cognitive screening measure but rather a whole toolkit for a comprehensive assessment that is sensitive to Māori cultural needs. It is a kaupapa Māori guide for how health professionals, whether they are Māori or tau iwi (non-Māori), can better engage in the process of assessment and support planning for a Māori person and their whānau who may be living with mate wareware. 

Find out more

These resources have kindly been assembled by the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre and made freely available.  Please note that none of the following versions have been adapted for New Zealand use at this stage.  In the interim, we recommend asking your interpreter to substitute the address used in these versions for one of the New Zealand addresses, appropriately translated.

    German         Greek     Hungarian 

Malay Spanish - Chile and Argentina Welsh 

In June 2019, the MoCA© Clinic and Institute announced that all users of the MoCA© test will be required to complete a training and certification program every two years at their own cost from 1 September 2020. 

The potential cost of this announcement to the NZ health sector, in both time and money, is significant.

The Ministry of Health and DHB Health of Older People Steering Group sponsored a Cognitive Impairment Assessment Review, managed by the NZ Dementia Foundation, to identify a screening tool appropriate for primary and community care settings, reflecting the predominance of these settings for dementia screening.

The Mini-ACE was endorsed as the recommended screening tool.

Read the review document
 

I have a question about administering or interpreting the Mini-ACE

You will find answers to frequently asked questions about administering and interpreting the Mini-ACE in the training module. 

Can I keep using the MoCA©?
The use of the Mini-ACE test is not prescriptive, but it is the recommended tool in New Zealand’s Health Pathways for health professionals in General Practice and non-specialist settings when they are using a simple cognitive test as part of a broader assessment of changes in cognition and functioning.  A recommended tool that is freely available and consistently administered helps to ensure a common “language” across time and professionals. In some settings professionals will use other, often more in-depth, cognitive assessment tools due to the context of their role. If a health professional considers it appropriate to continue to use the MoCA© after 1 September 2020, they must be certified by the MoCA© Institute. 
 

I am having trouble accessing or completing the module on the LearnOnline platform, who can I contact?

You will need to register for the Learn Online platform, the module is not available as a guest.

For technical queries please email: lmssupport@catalyst.net.nz

I am having trouble accessing or completing the module on my DHB's learning platform, who can I contact?

Auckland District Healthboard:  LearnDev@adhb.govt.nz

Canterbury DHB: healthlearn@siapo.health.nz

Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau : elearning@middlemore.co.nz

Te Whatu Ora Tairawhiti: Praveena.nair@tdh.org.nz

Te Whatu Ora Hawkes Bay: education@hbdhb.govt.nz

Te Whatu Ora Hutt Valley: training@huttvalleydhb.org.nz

Te Whatu Ora Lakes: Training.help@lakesdhb.govt.nz

Te Whatu Ora MidCentral: Education@midcentraldhb.govt.nz

Te Whatu Ora Nelson Marlborough : elearning@nmdhb.govt.nz

Te Whatu Ora Northland : learn@northlanddhb.org.nz

Te Whatu Ora Southern : training@southerndhb.govt.nz

Te Whatu Ora Taranaki : elearning@tdhb.org.nz

Te Whatu Ora Waikato : LearningDevelopmentHR@waikatodhb.health.nz

Te Whatu Ora Waitematā : e-Learning@waitematadhb.govt.nz

Te Whatu Ora Whanganui : eLearning.Whanganui@wdhb.org.nz