Detection Flashcards
7 cards from real MMSE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Detection flashcards as text
Which MMSE task requires a patient to follow a three-step verbal command?
Answer: Language – comprehension
The three-step command ('Take a paper in your right hand, fold it in half, and put it on the floor') is part of the Language comprehension section.
The MMSE registration task asks the patient to repeat three words. What does failure to register all three words indicate?
Answer: Impaired attention or encoding
Inability to register all three words suggests impaired attention or encoding, which is foundational for subsequent recall testing.
A clinician suspects Lewy body dementia rather than Alzheimer's. Which MMSE domain impairment pattern is more characteristic of Lewy body dementia?
Answer: Primarily visuospatial impairment
Lewy body dementia tends to show early and disproportionate visuospatial deficits compared to Alzheimer's disease.
How many points are possible on the MMSE recall section?
Answer: 3
The recall section tests memory of three previously registered words, so the maximum score is 3 points.
Which alternative brief cognitive screen is most commonly used alongside the MMSE to improve detection accuracy?
Answer: Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
The MoCA is frequently used alongside or instead of the MMSE because it is more sensitive to mild cognitive impairment.
What does the MMSE's pentagon-copying task specifically detect?
Answer: Visuospatial and constructional impairment
Copying intersecting pentagons on the MMSE evaluates visuospatial perception and constructional ability.
Which condition can elevate MMSE scores and mask true cognitive decline, leading to delayed dementia detection?
Answer: High premorbid intellectual ability
High premorbid intellectual ability allows patients to compensate on MMSE tasks, artificially inflating scores despite underlying neurodegeneration.