Chronic information-processing changes in individuals with a first-ever clinical lacunar syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine whether chronic cognitive changes occur after a first-ever single clinical lacunar syndrome.


BACKGROUND
Patients who have been diagnosed with a first-ever single clinical lacunar syndrome, on the basis of clinical rather than radiologic criteria, perform normally on general clinical neuropsychologic measures.


METHODS
We examined information-processing abilities in 17 first-ever lacunar syndrome participants [lacunar anterior circulation infarct (LACI)], using 2 experimental tasks of information processing.


RESULTS
At a group level, LACI participants were significantly impaired relative to stroke-free controls. Specifically, LACI participants had a reduced ability to process information under conditions of increasing attentional demand; this deficit was not caused by a fundamental impairment in speed of information processing.


CONCLUSIONS
The current findings represent the first evidence of chronically impaired cognition in individuals who have suffered a single clinical lacunar syndrome event, but have no history of other clinical stroke.
Anderson
Jacqueline F I
JF
Department of Psychology, School of Behavioural Science, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. jfande@unimelb.edu.au
Saling
Michael M
MM
Donnan
Geoffrey A
GA
D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D015161:Dementia, Multi-Infarct / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology