Neuropsychological impairment in vascular dementia

Abstract

The purpose was to discover the neuropsychological impairment in Vascular dementia (VaD), using some neuropsychological tests: MMSE, Hachinski Ischemia Score and Mini-Cog, and to compare these results with other previous studies. We prospectively examined 100 stroke patients hospitalized in the Neurology Service, at UHC “Mother Teresa”, Tirana. After performing the neuropsychological tests (MMSE, Hachinski Ischemia Score and Mini-Cog), we divided them in two groups, according with the scorings of each patient and evaluation of their signs and imaging data. We have been careful in considering each patient background, education, age and other factors that could gave us bias in the test scoring. We found 28 patients (28%) with low scores in the neuropsychological tests. Respectively MMSE average scoring was 17 points (SD=2.62) in 7 cases. 19 (moderate) and 2 severe cognitive impairment cases are recorded. The average Hachinski Ischemia Score was 9.03 points (SD=2.16) while in the Mini-Cog test the average scoring was 1.9 points (SD=1.1). We compared these results with the scorings from the control group that had a much higher result. In the study group we see male predominance (63.4%) and an average age 70.3 years old. The tests of temporo spatial orientation together with the constructive practice and abilities shown the most common impairment, while abrupt onset, stepwise deterioration, previous stroke history, previous arterial hypertension history, evidence associated with atherosclerosis and neurological signs and symptoms were quite frequent. According to our data the most frequent deficiencies of VaD are temporospatial orientation and the constructive practice and abilities.