Subtle memory and attentional deficits revealed in an Irish stroke patient sample using domain-specific cognitive tasks

Abstract

Stroke disrupts motor, sensory, and cognitive systems in survivors. Unlike in physical impairments, assessment of cognitive function is often inadequate, as no standardized procedure to monitor cognitive recovery post stroke exists. We evaluated a number of novel task-orientated tools designed to assess subtle cognitive deficits (including memory, attention, and executive functioning) in a sample of stroke patients. Although unimpaired on MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination)-based indices of cognition, memory, and intelligence, stroke survivors were significantly impaired on tasks testing visual attention, spatial/relational processing, and associative memory. We recommend a standardized multidomain cognitive assessment and propose that cognitive deficits post stroke require in-depth assessment to inform patient-orientated rehabilitation.

Keywords:

• Stroke
• Cognition
• Memory
• Attention
• Assessment

Acknowledgements

Irish Research Council for Humanities and Social Sciences; John and Pat Hume NUI Maynooth scholarship.