Mayo Clinic Finds Stroke May Lead To Mild Cognitive Impairment

Sunday, July 27, 2008

A new Mayo Clinic study found that people with a history of strokes had a greater likelihood of developing mild cognitive impairment, a disorder of the brain that affects memory and thinking abilities. This study will be presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease in Chicago on July 27.

Individuals with mild cognitive impairment can function reasonably well in everyday activities, but often have difficulty remembering details of conversations, events and upcoming appointments. Most (but not all) patients with mild cognitive impairment develop a progressive decline in their thinking abilities over time. Alzheimer's disease is usually the underlying cause.

"While the association between a history of stroke and cognitive impairment is recognized, this is one of the first studies to show that prior strokes may contribute to the development of mild cognitive impairment," says David Knopman, M.D., a Mayo Clinic neurologist and the study's lead investigator.

As part of the ongoing Mayo Clinic Study of Aging, Dr. Knopman and a team of Mayo Clinic researchers identified 2,050 individuals from Olmsted County, Minn., without pre-existing dementia, aged 70 to 89. These individuals were interviewed, and family members or close acquaintances were interviewed regarding the individual's cognitive abilities. The individuals also received a neurological evaluation and neuropsychological testing to assess memory, attention and executive function, visuospatial cognition and language. The evaluations resulted in 1,640 individuals classified as cognitively normal and 329 who were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. Of the cognitively normal individuals, 7.7 percent had a history of stroke, while 17 percent of individuals with mild cognitive impairment had a history of stroke.

"Stroke is an important contributor to late-life impairment in memory and thinking. Prevention of stroke is therefore an important goal for reducing the number of cases of mild cognitive impairment and dementia in later life," says Dr. Knopman.

Other members of the Mayo Clinic research team included Rosebud Roberts, M.B.Ch.B.; Yonas Geda, M.D.; Bradley Boeve, M.D.; Eric Tangalos, M.D.; Walter Rocca, M.D.; and Ronald Petersen, M.D.; Ph.D.

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