A history of stroke may be associated with progressive memory difficulties in patients without dementia or cognitive impairment, according to a study in the April issue of Archives of Neurology.
Cerebrovascular disease, which includes stroke, is the second leading cause of death and the major cause of long-term disability in Western societies, according to background information in the article. Several studies have shown that risk factors for vascular disease, such as diabetes and hypertension, are associated with stroke, which in turn may increase the risk for dementia and Alzheimer's disease. However, it remains unclear whether stroke is directly related to cognitive decline--increasing problems with thinking, learning and memory--in patients without dementia or cognitive impairment.
Christiane Reitz, M.D., and colleagues at Columbia University, New York, studied 1,271 elderly patients (386 men, 885 women, with an average age of 76.2 years) without dementia or cognitive impairment. Between Jan. 4, 1992, and Dec. 24, 1994, participants underwent an initial interview and evaluation and also took a series of neuropsychological tests to gauge their cognitive abilities. They were then examined at 18-month intervals through Nov. 24, 1999.