Post-stroke memory impairment among patients with vascular mild cognitive impairment
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Updated: Apr 13, 2026
A Mouse Model for Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Based on Needle-guided Asymmetric Bilateral Common Carotid Artery Stenosis
Published on: November 22, 2024
Soo-Jin Cho1, Kyung-Ho Yu2, Mi Sun Oh3
1Department of Neurology, Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Hwaseong, South Korea. dowonc@naver.com.
Background:
The American Stroke Association/American Heart Association recommended the criteria for diagnosis of vascular cognitive impairment and memory impairment (MI) is a feature in the classification of vascular mild cognitive impairment (VaMCI). VaMCI patients with MI may differ in terms of infarct location or demographic features, so we evaluated the clinical characteristics associated with MI in patients with VaMCI.
Methods:
A prospective multicenter study enrolled 353 acute ischemic stroke patients who underwent evaluation using the Korean Vascular Cognitive Impairment Harmonization Standard Neuropsychological Protocol at three months after onset. The association between MI and demographic features, stroke risk factors, and infarct location was assessed.
Results:
VaMCI was diagnosed in 141 patients, and 58 (41.1%) exhibited MI. Proportions of men and of left side infarcts were higher in VaMCI with MI than those without (75.9 vs. 57.8%, P = 0.03, 66.7 vs. 47%, P = 0.02). Multiple logistic analyses revealed that male sex (odds ratio [OR] 3.07, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.12-8.42), left-side infarcts (OR 3.14, 95% CI 1.37-7.20), and basal ganglia/internal capsule infarcts (OR 4.53, 95% CI 1.55-13.22) were associated with MI after adjusting other demographic variables, vascular risk factors, and subtypes of stroke.
Conclusions:
MI is associated with sex and infarct location in VaMCI patients.
Insights
Memory impairment (MI) in vascular mild cognitive impairment (VaMCI) is linked to male sex and specific infarct locations. These findings aid in understanding VaMCI patient characteristics.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Cognitive Science
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Vascular mild cognitive impairment (VaMCI) is a diagnosis that includes memory impairment (MI).
- Understanding clinical characteristics associated with MI in VaMCI is crucial as these may differ based on infarct location and demographics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical characteristics associated with memory impairment (MI) in patients diagnosed with vascular mild cognitive impairment (VaMCI).
Main Methods:
- A prospective multicenter study involved 353 acute ischemic stroke patients.
- Neuropsychological evaluation was performed three months post-onset using the Korean Vascular Cognitive Impairment Harmonization Standard Protocol.
- Associations between MI and demographic features, stroke risk factors, and infarct location were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Of 141 VaMCI patients, 58 (41.1%) had MI.
- Patients with MI were more likely to be male and have left-sided infarcts.
- Male sex, left-sided infarcts, and basal ganglia/internal capsule infarcts were significantly associated with MI after adjustment for other variables.
Conclusions:
- Memory impairment in VaMCI is associated with specific demographic factors, notably male sex.
- Infarct location, particularly left-sided and within the basal ganglia/internal capsule, is a key predictor of MI in VaMCI patients.
