Correlation between cognitive impairment and cerebral atherosclerosis in patients with acute ischemic stroke

Abstract

Objective To investigate the correlation between cognitive impairment and cerebral atherosclerosis in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods Acute ischemic stroke patients without cognitive impairment were recruited before symptom onset. The Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) was used to evaluate the cognitive function. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to identify the infarct locations and sides. Magnetic resonance angiography, CT angiography and digital subtraction angiography were used to identify atherosclerotic arteries. Results A total of 101 patients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled, including 75 (74.3%) with cognitive impairment. The proportions of age (54.54±12.59 years vs. 64.43±10.37 years; t= -3.960, P<0.001), years of education ≤6 years (50.7% vs. 11.5%; χ2 =12.257, P<0.001), and cerebral atherosclerosis (89.3% vs. 50.0%; χ2 =18.137, P<0.001) of the cognitive impairment group were significantly higher than those of the normal cognitive function group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that cerebral atherosclerosis was an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment in patients with acute ischemic stroke (odds ratio 1.720, 95% confidence interval 1.005-2.942; P=0.048). MoCA score was negatively correlated with the offending vessels (r= -0.365, P<0.001) and the most severe vessels of atherosclerotic degree (r= -0.243, P=0.014). Conclusions Most patients with acute ischemic stroke had cognitive impairment in the early stage after onset, and the MoCA scores was negatively correlated with the degree of cerebral atherosclerosis. Cerebral atherosclerosis was an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Key words: Stroke; Brain Ischemia; Cognition Disorders; Atherosclerosis; Risk Factors