Apathy mediates the association between age and cognition after stroke

To examine if the association between age and post-stroke cognition is mediated by apathy.

A cross-sectional investigation was carried out with 389 stroke survivors and informants. Data were collected through the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES-C) and the Informant Questionnaire for Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE). Bivariate analyses were conducted between the IQCODE total score and each of the demographic and clinical characteristics as well as apathy, while Baron and Kenny's 4-step approach was used to examine the mediating effect of apathy on the association between age and post-stroke cognition.

Participants were aged 64.3 years on average, with a mean IQCODE score of 97.6 (SD: 14.8) and a mean AES-C score of 41.3 (SD: 8.0). IQCODE scores were positively correlated with age (r = 0.32, p < 0.001) and apathy (r = 0.54, p < 0.001). Apathy contributed to 24% of the total effect of age on post-stroke cognition, exerting a significant mediating effect on the relationship between age and post-stroke cognition.

Apathy may have a significant impact on the cognitive health of stroke survivors. Therefore, the early identification of apathy symptoms could facilitate consideration of potential interventions, such as multisensory and cognitive stimulation, designed to improve cognitive outcomes in this population.