Aphasia in border-zone infarcts has a specific initial pattern and good long-term prognosis

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neuroscience
• Stroke Research

Background:

• Border-zone infarcts (BZI) constitute approximately 10% of all strokes.
• Aphasia associated with BZI is infrequently studied.
• This research aims to define the early clinical presentation and evolution of aphasia linked to BZI.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the early clinical pattern of aphasia in patients with left-sided hemispheric border-zone infarcts.
• To track the evolution of aphasia over time, including early recovery and long-term outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study of consecutive stroke patients over a 2-year period.
• Inclusion criteria: aphasia in right-handed patients with MRI-confirmed left-sided hemispheric BZI.
• Standardized language examinations were performed within 48 hours, at discharge, and 6–18 months post-stroke.

Main Results:

• Eight patients with BZI-induced aphasia were analyzed.
• All patients initially presented with transcortical mixed aphasia (impaired comprehension/naming, preserved repetition).
• Aphasia showed rapid improvement, with full recovery in 3 patients and significant evolution in others based on infarct location (anterior BZI to transcortical motor aphasia, posterior BZI to transcortical sensory aphasia).

Conclusions:

• A specific aphasic pattern is associated with hemispheric BZI.
• These findings aid in clinically identifying BZI-related aphasia.
• The study highlights an excellent long-term prognosis for language recovery in BZI patients, informing rehabilitation and patient counseling.