Vascular mild cognitive impairment is highly prevalent after lacunar stroke but does not increase over time: a 2-year follow-up study

Abstract

Although ample research has been done into cognitive disorders occurring after stroke, relatively few data are available on the development and the course of vascularmild cognitive impairment (VMCI) after first-ever lacunar stroke.

Methods: A cohort of 95 patients with a first-ever symptomaticlacunar infarct, older than 40 years, MMSE>or=15 and no other neurological or major psychiatric deficits were included. Patients were assessed (clinically and with a neuropsychological test battery) at 1 and 24 months after stroke, and CT was repeated. VMCI was diagnosed when patients had a deficit in at least one cognitive domain, in the absence of dementia.

Results: Approximately 75% of the patients had VMCI at 1 month; this percentage was somewhat lower at 2 years. Only initial stroke severity was an independent predictor of VMCI after stroke.

Conclusion: VMCI is highly prevalent after lacunar stroke, but does not increase during the first 2 years thereafter.