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Following a 3-Stage Command 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.

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  1. In clinical practice, which neurological condition most classically impairs the 3-stage command due to motor programming deficits while leaving comprehension relatively intact?

    Answer: Apraxia

    Apraxia disrupts the motor programming needed to execute learned purposeful movements, causing command failure despite intact comprehension.

  2. The standard 3-stage command paper used in MMSE administration should be:

    Answer: A blank piece of paper provided by the examiner

    The examiner provides a blank piece of paper as a neutral prop for the task to ensure standardization.

  3. A patient completes the first two stages of the 3-stage command and then asks, 'What do I do next?' How should this be scored?

    Answer: Give credit for the two completed stages only, without prompting

    Prompting is not allowed; the patient receives credit for stages independently completed, and the third stage scores zero if prompting was required.

  4. Which stage of the 3-stage command do patients with mild cognitive impairment most commonly fail first?

    Answer: Placing it on the floor

    The final stage (placing the paper on the floor) is most often missed because working memory decay causes loss of the last instruction in a sequence.

  5. How does the 3-stage command differ from a 1-stage command in terms of cognitive demands?

    Answer: A 3-stage command additionally taxes working memory and executive sequencing

    Multi-step commands require simultaneous retention of the full sequence in working memory and executive control to carry out steps in order.

  6. An examiner repeats the 3-stage command a second time after the patient fails. How does this affect scoring?

    Answer: Only performance on the first administration is scored

    Standardized MMSE administration allows only one presentation of the command; repetition invalidates the standardized score.

  7. What is the maximum score a patient can obtain on the 3-stage command item of the MMSE?

    Answer: 3

    The 3-stage command is worth a maximum of 3 points, one point for each successfully completed stage.