Neuropsychological Characteristics of Patients with Leukoaraiosis / 中国临床心理学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the neuro psychological characteristics and their change in leukoaraiosis(LA).M ethods29 asymotamatic LA sub jects and 25 normal controls were compared on a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery,which included Revised Visual Retention Test(VRT),Wechsler Adult I n telligence Scale-Revised in China(WAIS-RC),and Zung's Self-rated Depression Scal e (SDS).Both groups were matched for sex,age and education.Results:The LA group s cored lower on the VRT than did the control group ,and the mean standard score o f the Memory and/or Freedom From Distractibility factor(MFSs)of the WAIS-RC in t he LA group was lower than that of the control group.There were no significant d ifferences o f the Full Scale IQ of the WAIS-RC and the score of the SDS between the two grou ps. Conclusion:LA may contribute to cogniti ve impairment in the neurologically healthy elderly,especially involving deficits of visuospatial ability ,disfunct ion of memory and attention,as well as slowing of mental processing.