The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is routinely used during the early assessment of people after stroke to indicate cognitive effects and inform clinical decision-making.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between cognition in the first week post-stroke and personal and instrumental activities of daily skills at 1 month and 3 months post-stroke.

A prospective cohort study consecutively recruited people admitted to the acute stroke ward. Acute cognitive status was measured using the MoCA within 1 week post-stroke onset. Functional outcomes were measured using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and the Australian Modified Lawton’s Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (Lawton’s) at 1 month and 3 months post-stroke.

Fifty participants with predominantly mild stroke (n = 47) and mean age of 69.8 achieved a mean MoCA score of 23.1. Controlling for age, the MoCA was associated with the overall FIM score at 1 month (P = 0.02). It was nearing significance for the Lawton’s at 1 month (P = 0.06) but was not associated with either outcome at 3 months. A score of less than 23 on the MoCA was indicative of lower scores on both outcomes.

A low MoCA score within 1 week of stroke may indicate need for support or rehabilitation due to early impacts on personal activities of daily living, but is not associated with poor functional outcomes at 3 months.