ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN THE UPPER EXTREMITY FUNCTION AND COGNITION IN POST-STROKE PATIENTS

Abstract

Objective: The aim: Was to determine the relations between the the upper extremity function and cognition in post-stroke patients.

Patients and methods: Materials and methods: Totally there were 86 patients examined in the 1-year period after first-ever anterior circulation ischemic stroke. Examination of the upper extremity function was performed with the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA). Cognitive function was assessed with the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), Trail-making Test A and B (TMT) and the Clock Drawing Test (CDT).

Results: Results: Motor dysfunction mostly manifested in low "Wrist" and "Hand" subtests scores (5 and 7 , respectively) and therefore resulted in decreased "Total motor function" score of 40 . The most significant relations were found out between the FMA "Hand", "Total motor function" subtests and CI indices. MoCA score correlated with FMA "Wrist" (r=0.34; p=0.021), "Hand" (r=0.52; p=0.001) and "Total motor function" (r=0.48; p=0.003) scores. "Hand" score also correlated with the FAB (r=0.43; p=0.012), CDT (r=0.22; p=0.016), TMT-A (r=-0.31; p=0.023) and TMT-B (-0.48; p=0.009) scores. There was no significant correlation between the sensory FMA subtests.

Conclusion: Conclusion: Our findings suggest that upper extremity motor impairment, especially hand and wrist dysfunction, are associated with cognitive impairment and executive functions disorder in particular.

Keywords: cognitive impairment; stroke; upper extremity function.