Memory problems: assessment

Question 1

What is anterograde amnesia?

Answer 1

Difficulty in acquiring new material and remembering events since the onset of the illness or injury

Question 2

What is retrograde amnesia?

Answer 2

Difficulty remember information PRIOR to the onset of illness/injury

Question 3

Advantages of the MMSE?

Answer 3

• quick

- different languages

Question 4

Disadvantages of the MMSE?

Answer 4

• not adjusted for age
• Poor examination of executive functioning
• Poor in severe impairment due to the ‘floor effect”
• Poor in high premorbid functioning
• May not indicate problems in early stages
• Significant focus on verbal functioning to exclusion of non – verbal skills.