Cognitive Impairment After Stroke

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Gerontology
• Public Health

Background:

• Vascular dementia is a significant contributor to stroke-related morbidity and mortality.
• Understanding vascular dementia aids in developing preventive strategies.
• Cognitive impairment post-stroke impacts patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the frequency of cognitive impairment following acute stroke.
• To identify factors influencing cognitive impairment after stroke.

Main Methods:

• Study included 50 adults with acute stroke (infarct or hemorrhage).
• Assessed stroke severity using NIHSS and functional status with Barthel's Index.
• Cognitive function evaluated using PGI-BBD and SIQCODE, with statistical analysis performed.

Main Results:

• Dementia observed in 30%, cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND) in 42%, and normal cognition in 28% of patients.
• Associated factors included advanced age, male sex, low education, stroke type (hemorrhage), stroke severity, and brain involvement (cortical atrophy, hemispheric/subcortical).

Conclusions:

• A high percentage (72%) of stroke patients experience some form of cognitive impairment.
• Secondary stroke prevention strategies are crucial for reducing vascular dementia incidence.