title: Cognitive Deficits in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Surgical Candidates.
abstract: The role played by vessel disease in stroke-related cognition dysfunction is unclear. We assessed the impact of significant atherosclerotic disease on cognition-even in patients asymptomatic for stroke. We hypothesized that patients would perform poorly relative to controls, but that symptomatic/asymptomatic status (history of stroke/transient ischemic attack) would have no effect. Fifty-two carotid endarterectomy candidates with >60% carotid stenosis and 17 controls underwent a 60-min neuropsychological test protocol. Symptomatic and asymptomatic patients showed deficits in executive function, delayed verbal recall, and general knowledge. Patients symptomatic for stroke also performed worse on tests of language and motor/visuomotor ability. Symptomatic and asymptomatic patients differed in working memory and language task performance. Although all patients showed deficits in executive function and memory, only symptomatic patients showed additional deficits in language and motor function. Cognitive abnormalities in patients viewed as "asymptomatic" for stroke underscore the need for early identification and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA jackson@neurology.wisc.edu.
authors.forename: Daren C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sandoval-Garcia
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Brandon G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Rocque
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wilbrand
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin Atherosclerosis Imaging Research Program, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Carol C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Bruce P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Hermann
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Dempsey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Accident and stroke; Cerebrovascular disease