Predicting Cognitive Decline in Patients with TIA and Minor Stroke

Abstract

Dementia is an incurable neurocognitive disorder and recognizing early pathological biomarkers can help to predict future dementia. Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) and minor stroke patients are at risk of dementia. We hypothesized that TIA and minor stroke patients experience higher brain atrophy rates and that baseline brain and hippocampal volumes may predict cognitive decline at 3 years. Our results suggest that TIA and minor stroke patients experienced a higher percent brain atrophy rate over 3 years compared to controls. Cognitive decline was observed at 3 years for tests assessing processing speed, and short and long delay free recall. Age was a predictor of decline in processing speed and time was a predictor for short and long delay free recall as well. Higher whole-brain atrophy and cognitive decline at 3 years suggests that TIA/minor stroke patients are a high-risk population for dementia.