Neuropsychological and Anatomical-Functional Effects of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Post-Stroke Patients with Cognitive Impairment and Aphasia: A Systematic Review.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been found to be promising in the neurorehabilitation of post-stroke patients. Aphasia and cognitive impairment (CI) are prevalent post-stroke; however, there is still a lack of consensus about the characteristics of interventions based on TMS and its neuropsychological and anatomical-functional benefits. Therefore, studies that contribute to creating TMS protocols for these neurological conditions are necessary. To analyze the evidence of the neuropsychological and anatomical-functional TMS effects in post-stroke patients with CI and aphasia and determine the characteristics of the most used TMS in research practice. The present study followed the PRISMA guidelines and included articles from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and EMBASE databases, published between January 2010 and March 2023. In the 15 articles reviewed, it was found that attention, memory, executive function, language comprehension, naming, and verbal fluency (semantic and phonological) are the neuropsychological domains that improved post-TMS. Moreover, TMS in aphasia and post-stroke CI contribute to greater frontal activation (in the inferior frontal gyrus, pars triangularis, and opercularis). Temporoparietal effects were also found. The observed effects occur when TMS is implemented in repetitive modality, at a frequency of 1 Hz, in sessions of 30 min, and that last more than 2 weeks in duration. The use of TMS contributes to the neurorehabilitation process in post-stroke patients with CI and aphasia. However, it is still necessary to standardize future intervention protocols based on accurate TMS characteristics.

Vascular Cognitive Impairment (VCI) afternon-embolic ischemic stroke during a 12-month follow-up in Brazil / Comprometimento cognitivo vascular (CCV) após acidente vascular isquêmico não embólico, em seguimento de 12 meses no Brasil

VCI represents a spectrum of cognitive impairments associated with stroke, vascular brain injury, or subclinical disease ranging from the least to most severe manifestations. Few studies are available on the prevalence of post-stroke VCI and none have been conducted in Brazil. Objective: To determine the prevalence rates of VCI and associated risk factors in a sample of ischemic stroke patients. Methods: We evaluated 172 patients with ischemic stroke for cognitive impairment one year after ictus. Results: Patients comprised 81 women (47.1%) and had a mean age of 67.77 (7.86) years, schooling of 3.52 (2.99) years, and MMSE score of 24.94 (3.59) points. After cognitive evaluation, 4.6% were diagnosed as CIND(cognitive impairment no dementia) and 12.2% had a diagnosis of dementia (probable vascular dementia in 20 patients and one subject with cerebrovascular disease and Alzheimers disease). Conclusion: The prevalence of dementia was lower than previous reports but our sample had a lower age than others, while a 12 month-period of follow-up prevented interference from associated neurodegenerative disorders.

CCV representa um espectro de comprometimento cognitivo associado ao AVC, lesão cerebral vascular ou doença subclínica que vai desde as manifestações menos graves às mais graves. Há poucos estudos sobre a prevalência de CCV pós AVC e nenhum no Brasil. Objetivo: Determinar a prevalência de VCI em uma amostra de pacientes com AVC isquêmico e fatores de risco associados. Métodos: Foram avaliados 172 pacientes com AVC isquêmico após um ano do ictus, em relação ao comprometimento cognitivo. Resultados: Os pacientes foram compostos por 81 mulheres (47,1%) e tinham idade média de 67,77 (7,86) anos, a escolaridade de 3,52 (2,99) anos, a pontuação do MEEM de 24,94 (3,59)pontos. Após a avaliação cognitiva, 4,6% foram diagnosticados como CCSD (comprometimento cognitivo sem demência) e 12,2% tiveram diagnóstico de demência (demência vascular provável em 20 pacientes e um com doença cerebrovascular e doença de Alzheimer). Conclusão: A prevalência de demência na nossa população está entre as mais baixas, porém,nossos pacientes são mais jovens e foram acompanhados por um período de 12 meses, o que evita a contaminação por doenças neurodegenerativas associadas.

Vascular Cognitive Impairment (VCI) after non-embolic ischemic stroke during a 12-month follow-up in Brazil.

VCI represents a spectrum of cognitive impairments associated with stroke, vascular brain injury, or subclinical disease ranging from the least to most severe manifestations. Few studies are available on the prevalence of post-stroke VCI and none have been conducted in Brazil. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence rates of VCI and associated risk factors in a sample of ischemic stroke patients. METHODS: We evaluated 172 patients with ischemic stroke for cognitive impairment one year after ictus. RESULTS: Patients comprised 81 women (47.1%) and had a mean age of 67.77 (7.86) years, schooling of 3.52 (2.99) years, and MMSE score of 24.94 (3.59) points. After cognitive evaluation, 4.6% were diagnosed as CIND (cognitive impairment no dementia) and 12.2% had a diagnosis of dementia (probable vascular dementia in 20 patients and one subject with cerebrovascular disease and Alzheimer's disease). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of dementia was lower than previous reports but our sample had a lower age than others, while a 12 month-period of follow-up prevented interference from associated neurodegenerative disorders.

CCV representa um espectro de comprometimento cognitivo associado ao AVC, lesão cerebral vascular ou doença subclínica que vai desde as manifestações menos graves às mais graves. Há poucos estudos sobre a prevalência de CCV pós AVC e nenhum no Brasil. OBJETIVO: Determinar a prevalência de VCI em uma amostra de pacientes com AVC isquêmico e fatores de risco associados. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 172 pacientes com AVC isquêmico após um ano do ictus, em relação ao comprometimento cognitivo. RESULTADOS: Os pacientes foram compostos por 81 mulheres (47,1%) e tinham idade média de 67,77 (7,86) anos, a escolaridade de 3,52 (2,99) anos, a pontuação do MEEM de 24,94 (3,59) pontos. Após a avaliação cognitiva, 4,6% foram diagnosticados como CCSD (comprometimento cognitivo sem demência) e 12,2% tiveram diagnóstico de demência (demência vascular provável em 20 pacientes e um com doença cerebrovascular e doença de Alzheimer). CONCLUSÃO: A prevalência de demência na nossa população está entre as mais baixas, porém, nossos pacientes são mais jovens e foram acompanhados por um período de 12 meses, o que evita a contaminação por doenças neurodegenerativas associadas.