ABSTRACT
To focus on cognitive impairment as indicator of intellectual decline, three months after ischemic stroke, as regards its prevalence and the factors that may affect it. A total of 60 consecutive patients with first-ever ischemic stroke were enrolled. The cognitive function was assessed three months after stroke using a battery of neuropsychological tests. Beside global cognitive function, six major cognitive domains; visual memory, verbal memory, language, orientation, abstract reasoning and visuospatial ability were evaluated. The functional abilities were measured using Barthel Index [BI] for Activity of daily Living. The relationship between cognitive function and demographic data, CT findings and BI was examined. Cognitive impairment was found in 35% of the patients 3 months after ischemic stroke. In comparison to controls, patients had significant cognitive impairment. There was significant impairment of memory and abstract with advancing age. The performance of male patients was significantly better than female patients as regards visual and verbal memory. Patients with left hemispheric infarction had significant impairment in language while right hemispheric infarction was associated with visuospatial neglect. The larger the size of infarct, the more was the impairment of memory, orientation, language and reasoning. Multiinfarcts significantly affected memory, orientation and language. Posterior cerebral artery occlusion significantly affected visual and verbal memory. There was significant relationship between disability BI score and all cognitive domains but neglect. The first-ever ischemic stroke is associated with significant cognitive impairment which occurs in 35% of poststroke patients, three months after stroke. Age, sex, involved hemisphere, size of infarct, single or multiinfarcts, occluded cerebral artery and severity of functional disability may predict cognitive impairment, at least in one domain, after ischemic stroke