Cognition in stroke.
BACKGROUND
Despite the current interest in criteria for vascular dementia, global, as opposed to focal, cognitive change after cerebral infarction has rarely been studied.


METHODS
We documented the neuropsychological changes one to three weeks and three months post infarct in 25 unselected patients with acute, first cerebral infarcts.


RESULTS
Improvements were seen in processes through to have a large subcortical component and in those mediated in the right hemisphere. Memory was relatively lightly affected.


CONCLUSIONS
The minimal deficits seen in memory and the predominance of subcortical changes are at variance with the currently suggested criteria for vascular dementia. Further data of this kind are needed before firm criteria can be proposed for the global pattern of cognitive changes expected in vascular dementia.
Bowler
J V
JV
Regional Neurosciences Centre, Charing Cross Hospital, London, Ontario, Canada.
Hadar
U
U
Wade
J P
JP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D015161:Dementia, Multi-Infarct / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D014888:Wechsler Scales