Cognitive impairment and hypothymia in post stroke patients

Abstract: 129 patients aged 18–84 in early rehabilitation period of the first hemispheric ischemic stroke and 48 patients with cerebrovascular disorders without stroke in anamnesis were observed. Cognitive functions (MMSE, FAB, Clock Drawing Test, the 5-Word test, attention assessment, Semantic Verbal Fluency test) and emotional sphere (CES-D) were studied. Investigation was carried out twice during the early recovery period 3–4weeks and 3months after the stroke. Statistically significant decrease of cognitive functions in comparison with control group data was revealed. Cognitive deficiency and depressed mood were fixed in patients after the first hemispheric ischemic stroke. The level of cognitive decline correlated with expression of neurological deficiency and age. The expression of hypothymia correlated with age, dominated by women, did not depend on stroke localization and education. Women, elderly people and patients with severe neurological deficits had higher risk of emotional disorders after the first hemispheric ischemic stroke. There was a tendency to reduce the frequency of hypothymia and cognitive decline in the early rehabilitation period.
Source: Journal of the Neurological Sciences - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research