Correlation between white matter lesions and cognitive impairment after stroke

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neuroimaging
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Vascular cognitive impairment is a significant consequence of acute ischemic stroke (AIS).
• White matter lesions (WML) are common in AIS patients and may contribute to cognitive decline.
• Understanding the relationship between WML and cognitive outcomes is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between white matter lesion (WML) severity and cognitive function in patients following acute ischemic stroke (AIS).
• To identify predictors of cognitive impairment at 90 days and 1 year post-stroke.

Main Methods:

• 120 AIS patients underwent cranial MRI for WML assessment using the Fazekas scale and volume quantification.
• Cognitive function was longitudinally assessed using the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale at 90 days and 1 year.
• Statistical analyses included correlation and linear regression to determine associations.

Main Results:

• Severe WML was associated with higher rates of mild cognitive impairment and dementia at 1 year post-stroke.
• WML volume, total WML score, deep WML score, and age correlated with 1-year CDR scores.
• Admission NIHSS score, total WML score, and age independently predicted cognitive outcomes at 90 days.

Conclusions:

• WML severity, age, and admission NIHSS score are associated with cognitive function 90 days post-stroke.
• While WML severity correlates with cognitive impairment at 1 year, it is not the sole determining factor.