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Executive Function Deficits Frequent Following Minor Strokes: Presented at ISC By Ed Susman SAN ANTONIO, Tex -- February 27, 2010 -- Patients who suffer transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) or minor strokes should be tested specifically for executive function problems, researchers said here at the 2010 International Stroke Conference (ISC). “As many as 40% of patients show impaired executive function skills following a TIA or minor stroke,” said Michael Harnadek, PhD, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario. “Our study underscores the need to employ measures of executive functioning when screening for cognitive impairment in patients with cerebrovascular disease, since the Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE] is insensitive in detecting cognitive problems in this population,” he said during a press briefing on February 24. In the study, researchers enrolled 140 patients who had been diagnosed with a TIA or a minor ischaemic stroke. The mean age of the patients in the study was 67.3 years, and 61% were men. About 45% were diagnosed with a TIA, and 55% were diagnosed with a minor stroke. The patients performed a series of tests and were also evaluated using the MMSE. About 5% of patients appeared to be impaired when assessed with the MMSE, but 13.2% of patients were assessed impaired on a study of executive judgment (Cognistat Judgment subtest); 15.3% of the patients were observed to be impaired in the standard Clock Drawing Test; 31.2% of patients were found impaired in the Trail Making Test-A, and 39.6% of patients were found to be impaired in the Trail Making Test-B, Dr. Harnadek said. He said that compared with the rate of impairment in the general public, all the tests results were statistically significant -- except for the differenced seen with the MMSE. “The Mini-Mental State Examination is not sensitive to cognition changes following a TIA or a minor stroke,” Dr. Harnadek said. “Clinicians need to examine executive functioning skills when considering cognition.” He added, “This study contributes to a growing body of literature documenting the common occurrence of executive dysfunction in patients with cerebrovascular disease prior to major stroke.” Funding for this study was provided by the Canadian Stroke Network. [Presentation title: High Prevalence of Executive Dysfunction in TIA and Minor Ischemic Stroke Patients. Abstract P275] E-mail this page to a friend or colleague! To print, use this version