Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026
07:42
Dual-Task Stroop Paradigm for Detecting Cognitive Deficits in High-Functioning Stroke Patients
Published on: December 16, 2022
Structural connectome and cognitive performance in young stroke survivors
Esther M Boot1, Mijntje M I Schellekens1, Hao Li1
1Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Reinier Postlaan 4, PO-Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Scientific Reports
|May 27, 2026
Summary
Brain network disruptions are linked to cognitive decline in young stroke survivors. However, specific hub region impacts and predictive scores for vascular cognitive disorder were not confirmed in this study.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Young stroke survivors (ages 18-49) with cerebral ischemia often experience cognitive impairment.
- Understanding the relationship between brain network integrity and cognitive function is crucial for this population.
- Previous research suggests brain network alterations may underlie post-stroke cognitive deficits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between brain network measures, particularly in hub regions, and cognitive performance in young stroke survivors.
- To identify potential predictors of vascular cognitive disorder (VCD) using graph theory-based brain network analysis.
- To validate these findings in a larger cohort.
Main Methods:
- Utilized diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to construct brain connectivity matrices for graph analysis in a discovery cohort (n=60) and a validation cohort (n=423).
- Calculated Lesion Impact Scores and Rich Club Scores to quantify the effect of lesions on brain networks.
- Assessed cognitive function using neuropsychological tests and categorized participants into no/mild or major VCD groups.
Main Results:
- The major VCD group showed larger lesion volumes and lower global/local efficiency at baseline and follow-up.
- These efficiency differences became non-significant after adjusting for network density.
- Lesion Impact Score and Rich Club Score predicted VCD in univariable analyses but lost significance in multivariable and validation analyses.
- No specific associations with hub regions were identified.
Conclusions:
- Brain network disruption is significantly associated with cognitive function in young stroke survivors.
- The study highlights the complexity of post-stroke cognitive impairment and the limitations of current network-based predictive scores.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms linking brain network alterations to cognitive deficits in this demographic.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Ischemic Stroke l: Introduction
Ischemic stroke is an acute cerebrovascular condition in which blood flow to a brain region is suddenly interrupted, leading to tissue infarction. Neurons depend on continuous oxygen and glucose supply, so even brief reductions in perfusion cause energy failure, ionic imbalance, and irreversible injury. Ischemic strokes are classified into thrombotic and embolic types based on their underlying mechanisms.Thrombotic MechanismsThrombotic stroke develops when a clot forms within a cerebral artery.
01:15Ischemic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology
An ischemic stroke occurs when a cerebral blood vessel becomes obstructed, most often by a thrombus or embolus, interrupting the delivery of oxygen and glucose to brain tissue. Because neurons rely on continuous aerobic metabolism, energy failure begins within minutes of reduced perfusion. The region receiving the least blood flow becomes the infarct core, an area of irreversible cellular death. Surrounding this core lies the penumbra, a zone of hypoperfused but still viable tissue that is...