Many people experience cognitive impairment of some degree after stroke, making assessment of cognition after stroke a clinically valuable goal.5 One such tool, which has been studied extensively, is the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).5 The MoCA is a quick test that includes executive function, word recall, memory, attention, and language skills.5 In patients with stroke, the MoCA can be used as a brief cognitive tool in both the acute phase and the chronic post-stroke phase.5
References:
1. Dong Y, Slavin MJ, Chan BP, et al. Cognitive screening improves the predictive value of stroke severity scores for functional outcome 3–6 months after mild stroke and transient ischaemic attack: an observational study. BMJ Open 2013; 3 (9): e003105.
2. Dong Y, Venketasubramanian N, Chan BP, et al. Brief screening tests during acute admission in patients with mild stroke are predictive of vascular cognitive impairment 3–6 months after stroke. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2012; 83 (6): 580–585.
3. Zietemann V, Georgakis MK, Dondaine T, et al. Early MoCA predicts long-term cognitive and functional outcome and mortality after stroke. Neurology 2018; 91 (20): e1838–e1850.
4. van Rijsbergen MWA, Oldenbeuving AW, Nieuwenhuis-Mark RE, et al. Delirium in acute stroke: a predictor of subsequent cognitive impairment? A two-year follow-up study. J Neurol Sci 2011; 306 (1–2): 138–142.
5. Chiti G, Pantoni L. Use of Montreal Cognitive Assessment in patients with stroke. Stroke 2014; 45 (10): 3135–3140.