Understanding Cognitive Deficit After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Memory Focused Approach.

Michael Alfonso,Nicholas Tsouklidis,Tariq Hamadneh,Nazleen Sherali,Saba Aftab

doi:10.7759/cureus.11513

Abstract

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is a prevalent condition affecting a large portion of the population, many of them still in productive ages. Memory impairment is a common factor amongst those patients. Memory exerts a pivotal role in productivity. That is why it is important to understand how it can be affected in post-aSAH patients. There are certain areas most affected in cases of memory disturbances, as well as its functional connections with crucial cerebral regions. Active research on functional magnetic resonance and diffusion tension imaging is used to identify compromised areas within the brain. There are suggested factors regarding poor performance, such as cerebrospinal fluid drainage and new infarction areas, which should be addressed properly to benefit these patients and simultaneously help them return to a productive and functional life.

Highlights

BackgroundSpontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SSH) is a pathology related to extravasation of blood into the subarachnoid space
Several authors reported specific areas like the medial temporal lobe memory system and the cortical nodes of the default mode network in which the functional connectivity strength was reduced, which is why it is thought to be related to memory disturbances [9]
Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is a condition that affects millions of people all over the world, and it has an immense effect on cognition, posing difficulties in returning to work and fulfill a functional life

Summary

Introduction

Spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SSH) is a pathology related to extravasation of blood into the subarachnoid space It generally occurs after extravasation of blood from some intracranial blood vessels that are prone to leak [1]. The pathophysiology described behind the rupture of an aneurysm usually occurs in association with the presence of comorbidities such as hypertension, tobacco smoking, sedentary lifestyle, and so on. After one of these aneurysms burst, blood passes through the blood-brain barrier, producing disturbances on self-regulatory mechanisms, electrolytes, abnormal pressure upon specific areas, which in general leads to the neurologic symptoms showed in these patients [2]. The pathognomonic characterization described in SSH includes the worst headache ever, but it is understood that a wide variety of symptoms may be displayed, such as dizziness, diplopia, sensory or motor disturbance, seizures, and memory disturbances, amongst others [3]

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