What does the delayed verbal recall assess in the MMSE?

The delayed verbal recall in the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) specifically evaluates a person's ability to remember and later reproduce information that was presented earlier in the assessment. This involves recalling words that the examiner had previously asked the participant to remember.

This aspect of the MMSE is crucial because it assesses memory function, particularly in terms of short-term memory retention and retrieval. The ability to recall and repeat words highlights cognitive processes related to memory, which can be affected by various neurological conditions, including dementia and other cognitive impairments.

Understanding that this element of the MMSE is focused on memory rather than comprehension, object identification, or following commands clarifies why the correct response relates directly to memory function specifically tied to word recall.