Neuropsychological abnormalities associated with lacunar infarction

• Published in: Journal of the neurological sciences Vol. 257; no. 1; pp. 160 - 165
• Main Authors: Grau-Olivares, Marta, Arboix, Adrià, Bartrés-Faz, David, Junqué, Carme
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier B.V 15-06-2007; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Ataxia - complications; Ataxia - pathology; Ataxia - physiopathology; Ataxic hemiparesis; Atypical lacunar syndrome; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Infarction - complications; Brain Infarction - pathology; Brain Infarction - psychology; Cognition Disorders - etiology; Cognition Disorders - pathology; Cognition Disorders - physiopathology; Cognitive impairment; Dysarthria - complications; Dysarthria - pathology; Dysarthria - physiopathology; Dysarthria-clumsy hand; Female; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Lacunar stroke; Male; Medical sciences; Memory Disorders - complications; Memory Disorders - pathology; Memory Disorders - physiopathology; Middle Aged; Nerve Fibers, Myelinated - pathology; Neural Pathways - pathology; Neural Pathways - physiopathology; Neurology; Neuropsychological Tests; Paresis - complications; Paresis - pathology; Paresis - physiopathology; Pure motor hemiparesis; Pure sensory stroke; Sensorimotor stroke; Somatosensory Disorders - complications; Somatosensory Disorders - pathology; Somatosensory Disorders - physiopathology; Telencephalon - pathology; Telencephalon - physiopathology; Vascular diseases and vascular malformations of the nervous system; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the nervous system; Atypical lacunar syndrome; Dysarthria-clumsy hand; Ataxic hemiparesis; Lacunar stroke; Neuropsychological tests; Sensorimotor stroke; Pure motor hemiparesis; Pure sensory stroke; Cognitive impairment; Cognitive disorder; Infarct; Motor system disorder; Neuropsychological test; Cardiovascular disease; Language disorder; Vascular disease; Neurological disorder; Cerebrovascular disease; Hemiparesis; Stroke; Nervous system diseases; Hand; Cerebral disorder; Communication disorder; Central nervous system disease; Dysarthria
• ISSN: 0022-510X; 1878-5883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2007.01.022

Abstract The objective of this study was to assess neuropsychological abnormalities in 40 patients with lacunar infarction. Topography of infarction, presence of isolated or multiple silent infarcts and white matter hyperintensities were correlated with results of neuropsychological tests and subtypes of lacunar infarction. Patients were studied within 1 month after stroke. A total of 21 patients were males and the mean age was 70.7 years; 30% had a single infarction (mean number of infarctions was 3.4). Twelve patients had pure motor hemiparesis, 9 pure sensory stroke, 8 dysarthria-clumsy hand/ataxic hemiparesis, 8 atypical lacunar syndrome, and 3 sensorimotor stroke. The mean score of the Mini-Mental State Examination was 28.4. Mild cognitive impairment of subcortical vascular features occurred in 23 patients and isolated executive disturbances in 4. Neuropsychological results showed that patients with atypical lacunar syndrome followed by pure motor hemiparesis showed significantly more cognitive executive disturbances. Patients with dysarthria-clumsy hand/ataxic hemiparesis accounted for the best scores in some tests of visuoconstructive function and visual memory. In summary, mild neuropsychological disturbances (57.5%) are not infrequent in acute lacunar infarcts especially in patients with atypical lacunar syndrome and pure motor hemiparesis. Neuropsychological impairment should be considered as common clinical feature in acute lacunar infarction.