MMSE - Mini-Mental State Examination Recall of Words Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient is asked to recall the three words from earlier in the MMSE. They correctly state "apple" and "table," but then pause. The examiner provides a category cue, "It was a type of money." The patient then correctly says "penny." How should the examiner score this section?
- 1 point
- 2 points (Correct answer)
- 3 points
- 0 points
Correct answer: 2 points
The score for the recall section is based on the number of words recalled spontaneously without any cues. In this scenario, the patient recalled "apple" and "table" on their own, earning 2 points. The word "penny" was recalled only after a cue, so it does not count towards the score.
Question 2: What is the maximum possible score a patient can receive for the "Recall of Words" section of the MMSE?
- 5 points
- 1 point
- 3 points (Correct answer)
- 6 points
Correct answer: 3 points
The "Recall of Words" section assesses delayed recall for three specific words learned earlier in the examination. One point is awarded for each word correctly recalled, resulting in a maximum possible score of 3.
Question 3: Which of the following cognitive functions is the primary focus of the "Recall of Words" task in the MMSE?
- Immediate memory registration
- Executive function
- Language comprehension
- Short-term verbal memory (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Short-term verbal memory
This task specifically tests the patient's ability to retrieve information after a delay and intervening tasks (Attention/Calculation). This is a measure of short-term, or delayed, verbal memory. Immediate registration was tested in a separate, earlier section of the exam.
Question 4: During the administration of the MMSE, after the attention and language sections, the examiner asks the patient, "What were the three words I asked you to remember earlier?" The patient responds, "I'm sorry, I don't remember you asking me any words." What is the score for the recall section?
- 0 (Correct answer)
- 1
- 3
- This section cannot be scored.
Correct answer: 0
The score is based on the number of words correctly recalled. If the patient cannot recall any of the words, even the instruction to remember them, the score for this section is 0.
Question 5: An examiner is administering the recall portion of the MMSE. The patient correctly recalls one word but cannot recall the other two, even after being encouraged to try. What is the most appropriate next step for the examiner?
- Repeat the words and ask the patient to recall them again.
- Provide semantic cues for the remaining words.
- Record the score of 1 and proceed to the next section of the exam. (Correct answer)
- End the examination as the patient's memory is clearly impaired.
Correct answer: Record the score of 1 and proceed to the next section of the exam.
According to standardized MMSE administration protocol, if a patient cannot recall all the words, the examiner should score the attempt based on the number of correct, un-cued words (1 point in this case) and move on to the next part of the test. Cues are not given for scoring purposes, and the words are not retaught at this stage.
Question 6: The ability to recall three words after a delay and intervening tasks distinguishes the "Recall" section from the "Registration" section. This distinction is crucial for assessing the difference between:
- Attention and concentration.
- Immediate and delayed memory. (Correct answer)
- Receptive and expressive language.
- Visuospatial and constructional skills.
Correct answer: Immediate and delayed memory.
The "Registration" phase tests immediate memory (can the patient repeat the words right after hearing them?). The "Recall" phase, which occurs after several minutes of distracting tasks, tests delayed memory (can the patient retrieve those words from short-term storage?). This is a key distinction in memory assessment.
MMSE - Mini-Mental State Examination Recall of Words Questions and Answers
A patient is asked to recall the three words from earlier in the MMSE.
They correctly state "apple" and "table," but then pause.
The examiner provides a category cue, "It was a type of money." The patient then correctly says "penny." How should the examiner score this section?