Executive function declines long-term after ‘transient’ brain attacks

Reuters Health: People who have so-called transient neurological attacks, including brief mini-strokes, may develop cognitive problems that linger for months, a recent study suggests.

Dutch researchers looked at long-term mental functioning in people who had experienced brief neurological attacks, which can occur when blood vessels in the brain are damaged or temporarily blocked and include transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), often called mini-strokes.

The study team did brain scans and cognitive assessments of 150 people within a few days after the patients had a transient neurological attack. In cognitive tests repeated six months later, participants did worse in executive function skills needed for things like attention and time management.

“Executive function is less visible compared to walking and talking, but the latter may be given most attention in the acute phase,” said senior study author Dr. Ewoud van Dijk of Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center in the Netherlands.

During a mini-stroke, or TIA, people may notice the sudden onset of symptoms like numbness or weakness in the arm, leg or face, especially on one side of the body; confusion or difficulty talking; vision problems or dizziness and loss of balance. These symptoms often clear up within 24 hours.

While previous research has also linked mini-stroke to a decline in executive function, the current study findings suggest that subtle changes in the brain may occur that aren’t immediately detectable.

Patients in the study were 65 years old on average.

Overall, 73 participants, or 60%, were diagnosed with mini-stroke, and the remaining 48 patients were diagnosed with other types of transient neurological attack.