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07:30
Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions
Published on: April 23, 2021
Intracranial arachnoid cysts--do they impair mental functions?
1Section for Neurosurgery, Dept. of Surgical Sciences, University of Bergen, 5021, Bergen, Norway. kgwe@helse-bergen.no
Journal of Neurology
|August 5, 2008
Summary
Arachnoid cysts, benign brain malformations, can impair cognitive functions like memory and attention. Surgical decompression may reverse these cognitive deficits, improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurosurgery
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Arachnoid cysts are congenital malformations often found in the temporal fossa.
- They can present as expansive lesions and potentially alter cortical functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the literature on cognitive and psychiatric symptoms associated with arachnoid cysts.
- To evaluate the impact of arachnoid cysts on cognitive functions and the potential for recovery.
Main Methods:
- Literature search focused on studies reporting dyscognition or psychiatric symptoms in patients with arachnoid cysts.
- Emphasis on systematic, prospective studies with larger patient cohorts.
- Inclusion of case reports linking arachnoid cysts to neuropsychiatric and cognitive symptoms.
Main Results:
- Five articles investigating cognition in larger patient series identified impaired verbal perception, memory, complex verbal tasks, visuospatial functions, and visual attention.
- Numerous case reports associate arachnoid cysts with diverse neuropsychiatric and cognitive symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Arachnoid cysts can negatively affect cognitive abilities.
- Cognitive impairments associated with arachnoid cysts appear to be reversible following surgical decompression.
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