Primary visual memory of stroke patients

This matched control group study assesses primary visual memory of stroke patients using the GEMAT visual-memory test. Primary visual memory of 29 stroke patients who scored 24 or more on the MMSE was compared with that of 33 age and sex-matched controls. Patients were recruited from physiotherapy outpatient clinics. Measured variables were the total time needed to complete the test (GTT) and the number of correct answers (GCA). Patients were slower (p<0·01) and made more mistakes (p<0·01) than controls. 'Young' (60-71) subjects made fewer mistakes (p<0·01) than old subjects (72-89) and patients who scored 24-26 on MMSE were slower than patients who scored 27-30. It should be taken into consideration that stroke patients whose cognitive function is within a normal range of the MMSE might have impaired primary visual memory.