G. Andersen et al., INTELLECTUAL IMPAIRMENT IN THE FIRST YEAR FOLLOWING STROKE, COMPARED TO AN AGE-MATCHED POPULATION-SAMPLE, Cerebrovascular diseases, 6(6), 1996, pp. 363-369
General intellectual impairment during the first year following stroke
in 188 unselected, previously not demented patients aged 60-80 years
was assessed with a comprehensive screening test, the Mattis Dementia
Rating Scale, and compared to an age-matched population sample. Signif
icant impairment occurred in 32, 26 and 26% of the stroke patients at
1, 6 and 12 months, which correlated to subjective complaints and a de
pendent life after discharge. Most patients scored stable or improved
(84%), while 16% deteriorated significantly. Intellectual impairment c
orrelated to CT lesion size and central atrophy, age and pre-stroke lo
wer functional and social activity, as well as to stroke-induced handi
cap including aphasia, neglect, and increased mood symptoms. Thus, str
oke-induced brain damage influences general intellectual function but
may not be the sole reason for intellectual impairment.