Neli Petrova
University Multi profile Hospital for Active Treatment, Bulgaria
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Neurol Neurophysiol
Aim: The objectives of this study are to evaluate the delayed changes in cognition in poststroke patients and their relationship to the neuroimaging markers measured during the acute poststroke phase. Methods: Eighty-five first-ever stroke inpatients (average age 65.6�±5.6) without previous cognitive complaints were prospectively assessed with a comprehensive neuropsychological battery at 5-th day, 1-st, 6-th, 12-th, and 24-th month. Results: A noncontrast CT brain scan examination was carried out for all patients on admission to the hospital and for 22 patients - at the 24-th month. Changes in the basal ganglia lesions, deep white matter and hippocampal atrophy were tested and examined. The results clearly showed hippocampal atrophy as a very stable predictor of cognitive impairment in almost all measures. Basal ganglia lesions were important for executive dysfunction and attention. On the other hand, Medial Temporal Lobe (MTL) atrophy showed high impact on the performance during attention/executive tests, even 2 years after stroke. In addition, the MTL atrophy increased significantly in that time compared with the baseline. Conclusion: Cognitive impairments are common after stroke. These results underlined the important role of the initial assessment of MTL atrophy. In our study the hippocampal atrophy is the strongest predictor of cognitive impairment and dementia outcome, even in poststroke patients.
E-mail: np27@abv.bg
