title: Temporal Evolution of Poststroke Cognitive Impairment Using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment.
abstract: The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is nowadays recommended for the screening of poststroke cognitive impairment. However, little is known about the temporal evolution of MoCA-assessed cognition after stroke. The objective of this study was to examine the temporal pattern of overall and domain-specific cognition at 2 and 6 months after stroke using the MoCA and to identify patient groups at risk for cognitive impairment at 6 months after stroke.
  
  
  
  Prospective cohort study in which 324 patients were administered the MoCA at 2 and 6 months post stroke. Cognitive impairment was defined as MoCA<26. Differences in cognitive impairment rates between 2 and 6 months post stroke were analyzed in different subgroups. Patients with MoCA score <26 at 2 months, who improved by ≥2 points by 6 months, were defined as reverters. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify determinants of (1) cognitive impairment at 6 months post stroke and (2) reverter status.
  
  
  
  Between 2 and 6 months post stroke, mean MoCA score improved from 23.7 (3.9) to 24.7 (3.5), P<0.001. Prevalence of cognitive impairment at 2 months was 66.4%, compared with 51.9% at 6 months (P<0.001). More comorbidity and presence of cognitive impairment at 2 months were significant independent predictors of cognitive impairment 6 months post stroke. No significant determinants of reverter status were identified.
  
  
  
  Although cognitive improvement is seen ≤6 months post stroke, long-term cognitive deficits are prevalent. Identifying patients at risk of cognitive impairment is, therefore, important as well as targeting interventions to this group.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology, Elisabeth-Tweesteden Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands (B.N., P.L.M.d.K.); Brain Center Rudolf Magnus and Center of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht and Hoogstraat Rehabilitation, The Netherlands (J.M.A.V.-M., M.L.v.M., M.W.M.P.); Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands (M.W.M.P.); and Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (C.M.v.H.) and Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience (C.M.v.H.), Maastricht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Britta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nijsse
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology, Elisabeth-Tweesteden Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands (B.N., P.L.M.d.K.); Brain Center Rudolf Magnus and Center of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht and Hoogstraat Rehabilitation, The Netherlands (J.M.A.V.-M., M.L.v.M., M.W.M.P.); Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands (M.W.M.P.); and Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (C.M.v.H.) and Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience (C.M.v.H.), Maastricht University, The Netherlands. j.m.a.visser-meily@umcutrecht.nl.
authors.forename: Johanna M A
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Visser-Meily
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology, Elisabeth-Tweesteden Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands (B.N., P.L.M.d.K.); Brain Center Rudolf Magnus and Center of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht and Hoogstraat Rehabilitation, The Netherlands (J.M.A.V.-M., M.L.v.M., M.W.M.P.); Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands (M.W.M.P.); and Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (C.M.v.H.) and Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience (C.M.v.H.), Maastricht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: van Mierlo
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology, Elisabeth-Tweesteden Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands (B.N., P.L.M.d.K.); Brain Center Rudolf Magnus and Center of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht and Hoogstraat Rehabilitation, The Netherlands (J.M.A.V.-M., M.L.v.M., M.W.M.P.); Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands (M.W.M.P.); and Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (C.M.v.H.) and Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience (C.M.v.H.), Maastricht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marcel W M
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Post
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology, Elisabeth-Tweesteden Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands (B.N., P.L.M.d.K.); Brain Center Rudolf Magnus and Center of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht and Hoogstraat Rehabilitation, The Netherlands (J.M.A.V.-M., M.L.v.M., M.W.M.P.); Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands (M.W.M.P.); and Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (C.M.v.H.) and Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience (C.M.v.H.), Maastricht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Paul L M
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: de Kort
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology, Elisabeth-Tweesteden Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands (B.N., P.L.M.d.K.); Brain Center Rudolf Magnus and Center of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht and Hoogstraat Rehabilitation, The Netherlands (J.M.A.V.-M., M.L.v.M., M.W.M.P.); Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands (M.W.M.P.); and Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (C.M.v.H.) and Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience (C.M.v.H.), Maastricht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Caroline M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: van Heugten
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000592:standards; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: cognitive impairment; stroke