2016 Volume 38 Issue 1 Pages 14-21
Background and Purpose: The purpose of this study was to clarify the distinct influence of verbal and non-verbal cognitive functions on ADL improvement in stroke patients. Methods: RCPM and the MMSE were administered to examine the factors affecting improvement in ADL in 146 stroke patients who underwent convalescent rehabilitation. Results: Most patients with a decrease in MMSE scores alone (M group) had a language disorder caused by left hemisphere damage, while most patients with a decrease in RCPM scores alone (R group) had visuospatial cognitive impairment caused by right hemisphere damage. No difference in improvement in ADL was seen between the M group and those who had no decrease in scores on both assessments (N group). The R group had a longer hospital stay and lower ADL at discharge than the N group. The group of patients with decrease in scores on both assessments (MR group) had lower ADL at discharge and a lower rate of improvement in ADL than the other groups. Furthermore, the MR group had a longer hospital stay than the N group. Conclusion: The MMSE reflects verbal intelligence while the RCPM reflects non-verbal intelligence. Cognitive function as assessed by RCPM and MMSE may differentially affect ADL at discharge and improvements in ADL.
