5 OBJECTS MEMORY TEST (M5O): PERFORMANCE OF PARTICIPANTS WITH APHASIA

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the performance in the M5O test of patients with ischemic vascular aphasia and to analyze the influence of the time post onset, aphasia severity and comprehension ability. Materials and Methods: The M5O test was applied to individuals with vascular aphasia aged ≥ 50 years, with ≥4 years of education and with ≤30 (acute phase) days or ≥6 months (chronic phase) of time post onset. Age, education, time post onset, aphasia severity and comprehension effects on the performance of the test was analyzed. The influence of the frequency of the name of the objects was also taken into account. Subjects with aphasia were compared to a control group matched by age, sex and education. Results: A total of 91 patients (44 acute and 47 chronic), of which 48 were women, with a mean age of 65.1 ± 11.1 and 8.7 ± 5.1 years of education were tested. Scores ranged from 3.7 to 4.8 on immediate recall and 4.4 after interference. Performance is influenced by age, but not by the aphasia’s severity, comprehension or time post onset. Compared with controls, the aphasia group showed a lower performance. Conclusions: The M5O test is simple, brief test that allows for the assessment of the aphasia patients. Performance in the aphasic group is lower than the controls but not influenced by the time post onset, aphasia severity and comprehension, which is an added value for the application of this test in this population.