Subjective Cognitive Impairment, Depressive Symptoms, and Fatigue after a TIA or Transient Neurological Attack: A Prospective Study

Not So Transient?: A Narrative Review on Cognitive Impairment After Transient Ischemic Attack

Transient ischemic attack (TIA) is traditionally viewed as a self-resolving episode of neurological change without persistent impairments and without evidence of acute brain injury on neuroimaging. However, emerging evidence suggests that TIA may be associated with lingering cognitive dysfunction. Cognitive impairment is a prevalent and disabling sequela of ischemic stroke, but the clinical relevance of this phenomenon after TIA is less commonly recognized. We performed a literature search of observational studies of cognitive function after TIA. There is a consistent body of literature suggesting that rates of cognitive impairment following TIA are higher than healthy controls, but the studies included here are limited by heterogeneity in design and analysis methods. We go on to summarize recent literature on proposed pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the development of cognitive impairment following TIA and finally suggest future directions for further research in this field.

Language-Specific Dual-Task Effects After Stroke: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

The dual-task paradigm has been frequently used to examine stroke-related deficits because it samples behavioral performance under conditions of distraction similar to functioning in real-life environments. This original systematic review synthesizes studies that examined dual-task effects involving spoken language production in adults affected by stroke, including transient ischemic attack (TIA) and poststroke aphasia.

METHOD

Five databases were searched (inception to March 2022) for eligible peer-reviewed articles. The 21 included studies reported a total of 561 stroke participants. Thirteen studies focused on single word production, for example, word fluency, and eight on discourse production, for example, storytelling. Most studies included participants who had suffered a major stroke. Six studies focused on aphasia, whereas no study focused on TIA. A meta-analysis was not appropriate because of the heterogeneity of outcome measures.

RESULTS

Some single word production studies found dual-task language effects whereas others did not. This finding was compounded by the lack of appropriate control participants. Most single word and discourse studies utilized motoric tasks in the dual-task condition. Our certainty (or confidence) assessment was based on a methodological appraisal of each study and information about reliability/fidelity. As 10 of the 21 studies included appropriate control groups and limited reliability/fidelity information, the certainty of the findings may be described as weak.

CONCLUSIONS

Language-specific dual-task costs were identified in single word studies, especially those that focused on aphasia as well as half of the nonaphasia studies. Unlike single word studies, nearly all studies of discourse showed dual-task decrements on at least some variables.

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.23605311.

Effect of an exercise intervention on global cognition after transient ischemic attack or minor stroke: the MoveIT randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Patients with a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or ischemic stroke are at increased risk of developing cognitive impairment in the subacute phase. At present, the effects of exercise on cognitive functioning following a TIA or stroke are not fully known. The purpose of this trial was to investigate the effect of exercise on global cognition.

METHODS

The MoveIT trial is a single-centre, observer-blinded, randomized controlled trial involving a 1-year exercise intervention consisting of a 12-week group exercise program, combined with three counselling visits to the physiotherapists over a 9-month period. The control group received standard care. The primary outcome was global cognitive functioning, assessed at one year, using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Secondary outcomes included cardiorespiratory fitness, the cardiovascular profile, and attainment of secondary prevention targets, anxiety, depression and fatigue at one and two years.

RESULTS

The experimental group consisted of 60 patients, while the control group consisted of 59 patients. The mean age was 64.3 years and 41% were female. No between-group differences were found on global cognitive functioning (MD, 0.7 out of 30, 95% CI, - 0.2 to 1.6) or on secondary outcome measures at 12 months. The only significant between-group difference was found for fatigue, in favour of the experimental group at 12 months (MD, 0.6 out of 63, 95% CI, 0.1 to 1.1).

CONCLUSIONS

No benefit of this exercise intervention was found regarding global cognition. Future studies need to focus on optimizing rehabilitation strategies for this vulnerable group of patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

http://www.trialregister.nl . Unique identifier: NL3721 . Date first registration: 06-03-2013.

The Cognitive Sequelae of Transient Ischemic Attacks-Recent Insights and Future Directions

There is now considerable evidence that Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) carries important sequelae beyond the risk of recurrent stroke, particularly with respect to peri-event and post-event cognitive dysfunction and subsequent cognitive decline. The occurrence of a TIA could provide an important window in understanding the relationship of early mixed vascular-neurodegenerative cognitive decline, and by virtue of their clinical relevance as a "warning" event, TIAs could also furnish the opportunity to act preventatively not only for stroke prevention but also for dementia prevention. In this review, we discuss the current state of the literature regarding the cognitive sequelae associated with TIA, reviewing important challenges in the field. In particular, we discuss definitional and methodological challenges in the study of TIA-related cognitive impairment, confounding factors in the cognitive evaluation of these patients, and provide an overview of the evidence on both transient and long-term cognitive impairment after TIA. We compile recent insights from clinical studies regarding the predictors and mediators of cognitive decline in these patients and highlight important future directions for work in this area.

Carotid revascularization and cognitive impairment: the neglected role of cerebral small vessel disease

Carotid atherosclerosis is a pathological process that leads to narrowing of the vessel lumen and a consequent risk of stroke. Revascularization procedures such as carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid stenting aim to reduce occurrence of stroke in selected patients. Due to the proven benefit and low intraoperative risk, CEA is currently the preferred choice in candidates for carotid revascularization. However, the risk of cognitive impairment subsequent to CEA has not been fully elucidated and is unclear whether certain conditions, such as frailty, may increase this risk. There is consistent evidence that shows that frail patients have higher risk of cognitive impairment after surgical procedure. Moreover, brain pre-existing conditions may play a role in cognitive impairment after CEA. Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is a pathology that involves microcirculation and is detectable with computed tomography or magnetic resonance. SVD shares common vascular risk factors with carotid atherosclerosis, is a major contributor to vascular cognitive impairment and vascular dementia, and has been proposed as a marker of brain frailty. In this review, we discuss the current evidence about the link between carotid revascularization and cognitive impairment and advance the hypothesis that SVD may play a relevant role in development of cognitive impairment after carotid revascularization.

Brain connectivity and metacognition in persons with subjective cognitive decline (COSCODE): rationale and study design

Background

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is the subjective perception of a decline in memory and/or other cognitive functions in the absence of objective evidence. Some SCD individuals however may suffer from very early stages of neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer’s disease, AD), minor psychiatric conditions, neurological, and/or somatic comorbidities. Even if a theoretical framework has been established, the etiology of SCD remains far from elucidated. Clinical observations recently lead to the hypothesis that individuals with incipient AD may have overestimated metacognitive judgements of their own cognitive performance, while those with psychiatric disorders typically present underestimated metacognitive judgements. Moreover, brain connectivity changes are known correlates of AD and psychiatric conditions and might be used as biomarkers to discriminate SCD individuals of different etiologies. The aim of the COSCODE study is to identify metacognition, connectivity, behavioral, and biomarker profiles associated with different etiologies of SCD. Here we present its rationale and study design.

Methods

COSCODE is an observational, longitudinal (4 years), prospective clinical cohort study involving 120 SCD, and 80 control study participants (40 individuals with no cognitive impairment, and 40 living with mild cognitive impairment - MCI, or dementia due to AD), all of which will undergo diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) as well as behavioral and biomarker assessments at baseline and after 1 and 2 years. Both hypothesis-driven and data-driven cluster analysis approaches will be used to identify SCD sub-types based on metacognition, connectivity, behavioral, and biomarker features.

Conclusion

COSCODE will allow defining and interpreting the constellation of signs and symptoms associated with different etiologies of SCD, paving the way to the development of cost-effective risk assessment and prevention protocols.

Development of a Digital Lifestyle Modification Intervention for Use after Transient Ischaemic Attack or Minor Stroke: A Person-Based Approach

This paper describes the development of the ‘Brain-Fit’ app, a digital secondary prevention intervention designed for use in the early phase after transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke. The aim of the study was to explore perceptions on usability and relevance of the app in order to maximise user engagement and sustainability. Using the theory- and evidence-informed person-based approach, initial planning included a scoping review of qualitative evidence to identify barriers and facilitators to use of digital interventions in people with cardiovascular conditions and two focus groups exploring experiences and support needs of people (N = 32) with a history of TIA or minor stroke. The scoping review and focus group data were analysed thematically and findings were used to produce guiding principles, a behavioural analysis and explanatory logic model for the intervention. Optimisation included an additional focus group (N = 12) and individual think-aloud interviews (N = 8) to explore perspectives on content and usability of a prototype app. Overall, thematic analysis highlighted uncertainty about increasing physical activity and concerns that fatigue might limit participation. Realistic goals and progressive increases in activity were seen as important to improving self-confidence and personal control. The app was seen as a useful and flexible resource. Participant feedback from the optimisation phase was used to make modifications to the app to maximise engagement, including simplification of the goal setting and daily data entry sections. Further studies are required to examine efficacy and cost-effectiveness of this novel digital intervention.

Nonfocal transient neurological attacks are related to cognitive impairment in patients with heart failure

Introduction

Nonfocal transient neurological attacks (TNAs) are associated with an increased risk of future dementia, but it is unclear whether TNAs are also associated with concurrent cognitive impairment. We hypothesized that recent TNAs are related to worse cognitive functioning. We tested our hypothesis in patients with heart failure, as these patients are at risk of cerebral hypoperfusion, which might play a role in the etiology of TNAs.

Methods

We performed neuropsychological testing in all patients with heart failure enrolled in the Heart Brain Connection study. We assessed global cognition, attention-psychomotor speed, executive functioning, memory and language. All patients were interviewed with a standardized questionnaire on the occurrence of TNAs in the preceding 6 months. We studied associations between TNAs and cognitive functioning with linear and logistic regression analyses, adjusted for age, sex and education. We performed additional analyses in patients without previous stroke or TIA and in patients without brain infarction on MRI.

Results

Thirty-seven (23%) of 158 patients (mean age 70 years, 67% men) experienced one or more TNAs. Patients with a recent TNA were more likely to be impaired on ≥ 1 cognitive domains than patients without TNAs [41% vs. 18%, adjusted odds ratio 4.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.8–11.8]. Patients with TNAs performed worse than patients without TNAs on global cognition (mean difference in z scores − 0.36, 95% CI − 0.54 to − 0.18), and on the cognitive domains attention-psychomotor speed (mean difference − 0.40, 95% CI − 0.66 to − 0.14), memory (mean difference − 0.57, 95% CI − 0.98 to − 0.15) and language (mean difference − 0.47, 95% CI − 0.79 to − 0.16). These associations were independent of cardiac output and volume of white matter hyperintensities. Subgroup analyses in patients without previous stroke or TIA or brain infarction on MRI (n = 78) yielded comparable results, with the exception of the cognitive domain language, which was no longer different between patients with and without TNAs.

Conclusion

Among patients with heart failure, TNAs are associated with cognitive impairment, which warrants the need for more clinical awareness of this problem.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s00415-019-09376-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.