SCAB-5: Development And Psychometric Validation Of A Brief Cognitive Assessment Battery For Young Adults With Domain-Specific And Moca-Based Correlation

Abstract

Background:
There is a critical need for brief, reliable, and culturally adaptable cognitive screening tools for early detection of neurocognitive deficits among young adults. Existing batteries like the MoCA are primarily designed for older populations and may lack specificity and relevance for younger cohorts in educational and clinical settings.

Objective:
This study aimed to develop and validate the SCAB-5 (Saroha–Mudgal Cognitive Assessment Battery – 5 Domains), a time-efficient, multidomain cognitive screening tool tailored for young adults. The battery's psychometric properties were analyzed and compared with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) to establish convergent validity.

Methods:
SCAB-5 evaluates five cognitive domains: attention (Simple Reaction Time), working memory (Digit Span Forward & Backward), executive function (Stroop Color-Word Test), processing speed (Symbol Digit Substitution Test), and verbal fluency (Controlled Oral Word Association Test). A total of 112 healthy participants aged 18–30 years were recruited. Psychometric evaluation included internal consistency (Cronbach’s α), test-retest reliability (Intraclass Correlation Coefficients), exploratory factor analysis, and Pearson correlation with MoCA scores. Administration time was also recorded.
Results:
SCAB-5 demonstrated strong internal consistency (α = 0.74–0.86) and excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.81–0.91). Exploratory factor analysis supported a two-factor structure explaining 68.3% of the total variance. All five SCAB-5 domains showed moderate to strong positive correlations with corresponding MoCA components (r = 0.45–0.68; p < 0.01), confirming convergent validity. The average administration time was under 15 minutes, suggesting strong feasibility for clinical and academic implementation.
Conclusion:
The SCAB-5 is a valid, reliable, and practical cognitive assessment tool for young adults. With robust psychometric support and convergence with a gold-standard tool (MoCA), SCAB-5 offers a rapid, domain-specific alternative for cognitive profiling in educational, research, and preventive health environments.