Nick A Weaver1, Angelina K Kancheva1, Jae-Sung Lim2, J Matthijs Biesbroek1, Irene Mc Huenges Wajer1,3, Yeonwook Kang2,4, Beom J Kim5, Hugo J Kuijf6, Byung-Chul Lee2, Keon-Joo Lee5, Kyung-Ho Yu2, Geert Jan Biessels1, Hee-Joon Bae5. 1. Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands. 2. Department of Neurology, 158781Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym Neurological Institute, College of Medicine, 26727Hallym University, Anyang, Republic of Korea. 3. Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. 4. Department of Psychology, 26727Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea. 5. Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Republic of Korea. 6. Image Sciences Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Post-stroke cognitive impairment can occur after damage to various brain regions, and cognitive deficits depend on infarct location. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is still widely used to assess post-stroke cognition, but it has been criticized for capturing only certain cognitive deficits. Along these lines, it might be hypothesized that cognitive deficits as measured with the MMSE primarily involve certain infarct locations. AIMS: This comprehensive lesion-symptom mapping study aimed to determine which acute infarct locations are associated with post-stroke cognitive impairment on the MMSE. METHODS: We examined associations between impairment on the MMSE (<5th percentile; normative data) and infarct location in 1198 patients (age 67 ± 12 years, 43% female) with acute ischemic stroke using voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping. As a frame of reference, infarct patterns associated with impairments in individual cognitive domains were determined, based on a more detailed neuropsychological assessment. RESULTS: Impairment on the MMSE was present in 420 patients (35%). Large voxel clusters in the left middle cerebral artery territory and thalamus were significantly (p < 0.01) associated with cognitive impairment on the MMSE, with highest odds ratios (>15) in the thalamus and superior temporal gyrus. In comparison, domain-specific impairments were related to various infarct patterns across both hemispheres including the left medial temporal lobe (verbal memory) and right parietal lobe (visuospatial functioning). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that post-stroke cognitive impairment on the MMSE primarily relates to infarct locations in the left middle cerebral artery territory. The MMSE is apparently less sensitive to cognitive deficits that specifically relate to other locations.
BACKGROUND: Post-stroke cognitive impairment can occur after damage to various brain regions, and cognitive deficits depend on infarct location. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is still widely used to assess post-stroke cognition, but it has been criticized for capturing only certain cognitive deficits. Along these lines, it might be hypothesized that cognitive deficits as measured with the MMSE primarily involve certain infarct locations. AIMS: This comprehensive lesion-symptom mapping study aimed to determine which acute infarct locations are associated with post-stroke cognitive impairment on the MMSE. METHODS: We examined associations between impairment on the MMSE (<5th percentile; normative data) and infarct location in 1198 patients (age 67 ± 12 years, 43% female) with acute ischemic stroke using voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping. As a frame of reference, infarct patterns associated with impairments in individual cognitive domains were determined, based on a more detailed neuropsychological assessment. RESULTS: Impairment on the MMSE was present in 420 patients (35%). Large voxel clusters in the left middle cerebral artery territory and thalamus were significantly (p < 0.01) associated with cognitive impairment on the MMSE, with highest odds ratios (>15) in the thalamus and superior temporal gyrus. In comparison, domain-specific impairments were related to various infarct patterns across both hemispheres including the left medial temporal lobe (verbal memory) and right parietal lobe (visuospatial functioning). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that post-stroke cognitive impairment on the MMSE primarily relates to infarct locations in the left middle cerebral artery territory. The MMSE is apparently less sensitive to cognitive deficits that specifically relate to other locations.