Predictors of post stroke cognitive impairment: VITATOPS cognition substudy.

INTRODUCTION: Post stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is a common complication of ischemic stroke. PSCI can involve different depending on clinical and stroke related characteristics. The aim of this study is to determine the factors associated with impairments in specific cognitive domains. METHODS: The Vitamins to Prevent Stroke (VITATOPS) trial is a large, multinational randomised controlled trial. In this substudy, consecutive patients admitted for ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) at a tertiary hospital in Singapore were included. PSCI was defined as impairment of any of the six cognitive subgroups - visuoconstruction, attention, verbal memory, language, visual memory and visuomotor function - that were assessed annually for up to five years. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were used to determine factors associated with impairments in each of these cognitive domains. RESULTS: A total of 736 patients were included in this study, of which 173 (23.5 %) developed cognitive impairment. Out of the six cognitive domains, the greatest proportion of patients had an impairment in visuoconstruction (26.4 %) followed by attention (19.8 %), verbal memory (18.3 %), language (17.5 %), visual memory (17.3 %) and visuomotor function (14.8 %). Patients with posterior circulation cerebral infarction (POCI) as the index stroke subtype had higher rates of cognitive impairment. Further subgroup analyses show that Indian race and advanced age were predictive of language impairment, whilst fewer years of education and POCI were predictive of verbal memory impairment. POCI was predictive of visual memory impairment, and advanced age and POCI were predictive of visuomotor function impairment. CONCLUSION: We identified visuoconstruction and attention domains to be the most affected in our Asian cohort of PSCI. Advanced age, lower levels of education, posterior circulation strokes and concomitant comorbidities such as peripheral artery disease are independent predictors of PSCI.

Association between plasma trimethylamine-N-oxide and cognitive impairment in patients with transient ischemic attack.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence for the association of trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) with cognitive impairment after minor stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). However, how TMAO affects cognitive function in TIA patients has seldom been studied. METHODS: A total of 310 TIA participants were retrospectively collected from our stroke register between January 2020 and July 2021. Plasma TMAO was measured by liquid chromatography‒mass spectrometry at baseline. Cognitive performance was assessed by neuropsychological evaluation at 3 months after TIA onset. RESULTS: A total of 310 patients were included (mean age, 74 years; male, 160 [51.6%]; mean ABCD2 score, 2.6). TMAO was positively associated with cognitive impairment after TIA (aOR, 1.423; 95% CI, 1.125-2.561). The highest quartile of TMAO was related to an almost 2-fold increased risk of cognitive decline compared to the lowest quartile. Furthermore, executive and memory function were more susceptible to impairment after TIA in groups with higher levels of TMAO. Mediation analysis revealed that the overall mediated effect was-0.347 (p < 0.001), and the intermediary effect of CRP was-0.108. CONCLUSION: Plasma TMAO at baseline was independently associated with cognitive impairment at the 3-month follow-up after TIA. In addition, the inflammatory marker CRP may serve as an important mediator in this relationship. Our study may provide some insights into anti-inflammatory therapy to improve the cognitive trajectory of TIA patients with high TMAO levels.

Cognitive Predictors of Delirium on Long-Term Follow-Up after TIA and Stroke: Population-Based Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: TIA and stroke cause cognitive impairment with a typical "vascular" pattern, including prominent frontal/executive deficits. Cognitive impairment is associated with increased delirium risk and the few available data suggest that executive dysfunction is important. We therefore determined the predictive value of both severity and pattern of cognitive deficits for delirium on long-term follow-up after TIA/stroke. METHODS: Surviving TIA/stroke participants on October 1, 2013, in the Oxford Vascular Study (OXVASC) were assessed prospectively for delirium during all hospitalizations over the subsequent 6 months. Associations between OXVASC pre-admission mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores, and delirium during hospitalizations on follow-up were determined using logistic regression adjusted for covariates, including demographic factors, history of depression, baseline stroke severity, and admission illness severity. RESULTS: Among 1,565 TIA/stroke survivors, 158 patients (mean/SD age = 79.2/11.5 years) had ≥1 admission and 59 (37%) had ≥1 delirium episode. Mean/SD time between baseline TIA/stroke and admission was 4.7/3.6 years and between most recent OXVASC cognitive testing and admission was 1.7/1.8 years. MMSE and MoCA scores were associated with delirium: odds ratio (OR) = 1.16 (95% CI 1.07-1.27, p < 0.0001 per point decrease in MMSE) and OR = 1.20 (1.11-1.30, p < 0.0001 MoCA) and associations were robust to adjustment for all covariates, including stroke severity: OR = 1.11 (1.01-1.22, p = 0.03, MMSE) and OR = 1.15 (1.05-1.25, p = 0.003, MoCA). All 10 subtests on the MoCA and 4/11 on the MMSE were significantly associated with delirium with highest predictive value for frontal/executive and recall domains. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive impairment of increasing severity after TIA/stroke predisposed to delirium particularly deficits in frontal/executive domains and recall. Long-term risk of delirium should be considered as part of the overall cerebrovascular disease burden.

Behavioral and histopathological consequences of transient ischemic stroke in the Flinders Sensitive Line rat, a genetic animal model of depression.

Patients with depression have an increased risk for stroke, higher mortality rates following stroke and worse functional outcomes among survivors. Preclinical studies may help to better understand the underlying mechanisms linking these two diseases, but only a few animal studies have investigated the effects of prestroke depression. The present study investigates whether Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) rats, a genetic depression model, respond differently to focal ischemic stroke compared to control strains (Flinders Resistant Line [FRL] and Sprague-Dawley [SD]). Male adult FSL, FRL and SD rats received a unilateral injection of either vehicle or Endothelin-1 (ET-1) adjacent to the middle cerebral artery (MCA). Motor function was assessed at 48 h followed by euthanasia and infarct volume measurement using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining and image analysis. In a separate cohort behavior was assessed using standard tests for motor function, locomotor activity, cognition, anxiety- and depression-like behavior beginning at 10 days post-injection followed by infarct quantification. We found that ET-1-induced MCA occlusion produced significant infarcts in all three strains. Stroke animals had slightly impaired motor function, but there was no clear interaction effects between strain and stroke surgery on behavioral outcomes. We conclude that FSL rats show no increased susceptibility to brain damage or behavioral deficits following ET-1-induced focal ischemic stroke compared to controls.

Changes in Health-Related Quality of Life After Transient Ischemic Attack.

Importance: Numerous studies have found that patients diagnosed with TIA have decreased health-related quality of life, which has been interpreted as suggesting that patients with TIA have residual symptoms after the event. Studies assessing health status in the same patients before and after an event are lacking but may allow a direct determination of the association of TIA with postevent health status. Objective: To examine patient-reported health before transient ischemic attack (TIA) among individuals diagnosed with this event and evaluate change in patient-reported health after the event overall and by TIA characterization subgroups. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study was conducted among 236 patients with a clinical diagnosis of TIA from October 2015 to December 2017 in a large US health system that collects a patient-reported outcome measure in ambulatory setting as part of routine care. Included patients had patient-reported global health scale assessments completed as part of routine care before and after a TIA event. Data were analyzed from March through July 2020. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System Global Health (PROMIS GH) scale score before and after TIA. A change of 5 or more points in this score is considered clinically relevant. The secondary outcomes included change in patient-reported global health by clinical impression of the probability of a TIA event, pattern of neurological deficits, and short-term risk of stroke, as assessed by the ABCD2 score. Results: Among 263 patients who experienced TIA, mean (SD) age was 67.9 (13.4) years and 138 (52.5%) were women. The median (interquartile range) time between patient-reported global health scores was 152 (94-284) days. Mean (SD) baseline patient-reported global physical health and mental health scale summary scores were 43.4 (8.2) and 47.7 (9.7), respectively, and were statistically significantly decreased compared with the general population mean (SD) scores of 50 (10; P < .001) for physical and mental health. The difference between physical health summary score among study participants and the general population was clinically relevant. Mean (SD) summary scores were not statistically significantly different after the event compared with before the event overall (physical health: 44.1 [8.2], for a mean [SE] improvement of 0.65 [0.38] points; P = .09; mental health: 47.4 [9.1], for a mean [SE] worsening of 0.25 [0.38] points; P = .51) or within subgroups. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings suggest that impaired health status among patients diagnosed with TIA reflect, at least in part, an impaired premorbid state of health. This study did not find that TIA events were associated with worsening of health status overall or within subgroups.

Effect of Exercise Interventions on Health-Related Quality of Life After Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Exercise interventions have been shown to help physical fitness, walking, and balance after stroke, but data are lacking on whether such interventions lead to improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQoL). In this systematic review and meta-analysis, 30 randomized controlled trials (n=1836 patients) were found from PubMed, OVID MEDLINE, Web of Science, CINAHL, SCOPUS, The Cochrane Library, and TRIP databases when searched from 1966 to February 2020 that examine the effects of exercise interventions on HRQoL after stroke or transient ischemic attack. Exercise interventions resulted in small to moderate beneficial effects on HRQoL at intervention end (standardized mean difference, -0.23 [95% CI, -0.40 to -0.07]) that appeared to diminish at longer-term follow-up (standardized mean difference, -0.11 [95% CI, -0.26 to 0.04]). Exercise was associated with moderate improvements in physical health (standardized mean difference, -0.33 [95% CI, -0.61 to -0.04]) and mental health (standardized mean difference, -0.29 [95% CI, -0.49 to -0.09]) domains of HRQoL while effects on social or cognitive composites showed little difference. Interventions that were initiated within 6 months, lasted at least 12 weeks in duration, involved at least 150 minutes per week, and included resistance training appeared most effective. Exercise can lead to moderate beneficial effects on HRQoL and should be considered an integral part of stroke rehabilitation.

Application of the P300 potential in cognitive impairment assessments after transient ischemic attack or minor stroke.

Background The aims of this study were to determine the relationships between changes inlatency and amplitude of the P300 event-related potential component and cognitive impairmentsin patients after a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or a minor stroke and to assess thesuitability of the P300 for screening for cognitive impairments.Material and Method Sixty-five TIA or minor stroke patients diagnosed at the NeurologyDepartment of Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University from June 2015 toDecember 2016 and 30 healthy people evaluated in the same period were included. Allpatients were examing neuropsychological scales and event-related potentials within7 ± 3 days of onset of the disease. The TIA/minor stroke group was divided into normal cognition group(NC) and cognitive impairment group. The cognitive impairment group was further divided into vascular cognitive impairment with no dementia(VCIND) group and vascular dementia (VD) group to analyze the relationship between P300 latency.Results The P300 latency at each recording electrode was longer in the NC and VCIND groups than healthy control group (P < 0.001), the P300 latency of VCIND group longer than NC group (P < 0.001). When the P300-Fz latency cut-off value was 358.6 ms,the sensitivity for diagnosing cognitive impairment in patients after TIA/minor stroke was 0.875 and the specificity was 0.765.Conclusions The P300 latency delay can be used to detect cognitive impairments in patients after TIA/minor stroke and the P300-Fz latency is more sensitive for diagnosing cognitiveimpairments in TIA/minor stroke patients.

Acute and long-term impairments regarding emotional symptoms and quality of life in patients suffering from transient ischemic attack and stroke.

Objectives: Ischemic stroke (IS) is often associated with long-lasting physical deficits, linked to emotional symptoms (ES) and lowered quality of life (QoL). However, recent observations raised doubts regarding the traditional perspective of solely impairment-driven ES. In fact, anxiety and depression were also reported after transient ischemic attack (TIA) with a per definition absence of infarction and thus lacking physical deficits. This study follows the hypothesis that TIA patients might exhibit non-physical symptoms affecting individual QoL.Methods: In a prospective single-center observational study, IS patients (n = 73) were compared with TIA patients (n = 24) regarding their neurological deficit, ES and QoL, whereas the latter were evaluated by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Short Form 36 Heath Survey (SF-36). Assessments were conducted six times within a one-year follow-up period.Results: Overall, anxiety and depression decreased over time, while anxiety decreased more substantially. TIA patients showed similar levels of anxiety and depression when compared to IS patients. ES were detectable very early after the event and remained throughout the follow-up period in both groups. ES were associated with an impaired QoL including non-functional dimensions, while the strongest interrelations were observed for TIA patients, emphasizing interrelations between QoL and anxiety.Discussion: This study indicates that ES after TIA are comparable to the emotional burden after IS. ES after TIA were associated with QoL, pointing out their crucial role for individual well-being. Although confirmation in larger studies is necessary, these data underpin the need for early clinical awareness regarding non-physical symptoms in TIA patients.

A Retrospective Study of Neurological Complications in Pediatric Patients With Moyamoya Disease Undergoing General Anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Moyamoya disease is a condition with potentially devastating and permanent neurological sequelae. Adequate volume status and blood pressure, tight control of carbon dioxide to achieve normocarbia, and providing postoperative analgesia to prevent hyperventilation are typical goals that are used during anesthetic care in these patients. The purpose of this study was to assess postanesthesia neurological complications in moyamoya patients undergoing general anesthesia for imaging studies and surgical procedures excluding neurosurgical revascularization. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study examining moyamoya patients who received general anesthesia for imaging studies and nonneurosurgical-revascularization procedures between January 1, 2001 and December 1, 2016 at our quaternary care pediatric hospital. A general anesthetic encounter was excluded if it occurred within 30 days after a revascularization surgery. The electronic medical records of study patients were analyzed for perioperative management, and neurological outcomes within 30 days of an anesthetic were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 58 patients undergoing 351 anesthesia exposures were included in the study. Three patients experienced neurological complications, which included focal neurological weakness, seizure, and altered mental status. The incidence of complications during anesthesia encounters was 0.85% (3/351) with a 95% confidence interval of 0.28-2.62. CONCLUSIONS: Over a 16-year period at our hospital, 3 children with moyamoya disease who underwent anesthesia for nonneurosurgical-revascularization purposes demonstrated postanesthesia neurological symptoms. The symptoms were consistent with transient ischemic attacks and all resolved without long-term sequelae.

Effects on walking performance and lower body strength by short message service guided training after stroke or transient ischemic attack (The STROKEWALK Study): a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whetherdaily mobile-phone delivered messages with training instructions during three months increase physical activity and overall mobility in patients soon after stroke or transient ischemic attack. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial with intention-to-treat analyses. SETTING: University hospital. Data collection from November 2016 until December2018. SUBJECTS: Seventy-nine patients (mean (SD) age 63.9 (10.4) years, 29 were women) were allocated to either intervention (n = 40) or control group (n = 39). Participants had to be independent (modified Ranking Scale ⩽2) and able to perform the six-minute walking test at discharge from the hospital. INTERVENTIONS: The intervention group received standard care and daily mobile phone instructional text messages to perform regular outdoor walking and functional leg exercises. The control group received standard care; that is, primary care follow-up. MAIN MEASURES: Walking performance by six-minute walking test (m), lower body strength by five times chair-stand test (s), the short physical performance battery (0-12 points) and 10-metres walk test (m/s) were assessed at baseline and after three months. RESULTS: The estimated median difference in the six-minute walking test was in favour of the intervention group by 30 metres (95% CI, 55 to 1; effect size 0.64; P = 0.037) and in the chair-stand test by 0.88 seconds (95% CI, 0.02 to 1.72; effect size 0.64; P = 0.034). There were no differences between groups on the short physical performance battery or in 10-metres walking time. CONCLUSIONS: Three months of daily mobile phone text messages with guided training instructions improved composite mobility measures; that is, walking performanceand lower body strength. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY: The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02902367.

Results of a Pilot Trial of a Lifestyle Intervention for Stroke Survivors: Healthy Eating and Lifestyle after Stroke.

OBJECTIVES: Although healthy lifestyle practices mitigate recurrent stroke risk and mortality, few stroke survivors adhere to them, particularly among socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. We developed and pilot tested a occupational therapy-based lifestyle management intervention, Healthy Eating And Lifestyle after Stroke (HEALS), to improve stroke survivors' self-management skills relating to diet and physical activity and evaluated it in a diverse safety-net population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred English- or Spanish-speaking participants with stroke or transient ischemic attack were randomized to a 6-week occupational therapist-led group lifestyle intervention vs. usual care. Each of the six 2-h group sessions included didactic presentations on diet and physical activity, peer exchange, personal exploration with goal setting, and direct experience through participation in a relevant activity. Primary outcomes at 6 months were change in body mass index, fruit/vegetable intake, and physical activity. Secondary outcomes included change in waist circumference, smoking, blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, total cholesterol, glycosylated hemoglobin levels, quality of care, and perceptions of care. Effect sizes were determined in preparation for a larger randomized controlled trial powered to detect a difference in primary outcomes. A nested formative evaluation assessed facilitators and barriers to implementation, acceptance, and intervention adherence. RESULTS: There were no significant changes in primary or secondary outcomes at 6 months. Effect sizes for all outcomes were small (< 0.2). Focus group participants recommended extending the intervention program duration with more sessions, additional information on stroke and vascular risk factors, an interdisciplinary approach, additional family involvement, and incentives. Providers recommended longer program duration, more training, fidelity checks to ensure standardized program delivery, and additional incentives for participants. CONCLUSIONS: The HEALS intervention was feasible in a safety-net setting, but effect sizes were small. A longer-duration intervention, with intervener fidelity checks may be warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT01550822.

White matter tract microstructure and cognitive performance after transient ischemic attack.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) show evidence of cognitive impairment but the reason is not clear. Measurement of microstructural changes in white matter (WM) using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) may be a useful outcome measure. We report WM changes using DTI and the relationship with neuropsychological performance in a cohort of transient ischemic attack (TIA) and non-TIA subjects. METHODS: Ninety-five TIA subjects and 51 non-TIA subjects were assessed using DTI and neuropsychological batteries. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) maps were generated and measurements were collected from WM tracts. Adjusted mixed effects regression modelled the relationship between groups and DTI metrics. RESULTS: Transient ischemic attack subjects had a mean age of 67.9 ± 9.4 years, and non-TIA subjects had a mean age 64.9 ± 9.9 years. The TIA group exhibited higher MD values in the fornix (0.36 units, P < 0.001) and lower FA in the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) (-0.29 units, P = 0.001), genu (-0.22 units, P = 0.016), and uncinate fasciculus (UF) (-0.26 units, P = 0.004). Compared to non-TIA subjects, subjects with TIA scored lower on the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Assessment-Revised (median score 95 vs 91, P = 0.01) but showed no differences in scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (median 27 vs 26) or the Mini-Mental State Examination (median 30). TIA subjects had lower scores in memory (median 44 vs 52, P < 0.01) and processing speed (median 45 vs 62, P < 0.01) but not executive function, when compared to non-TIA subjects. Lower FA and higher MD in the fornix, SLF, and UF were associated with poorer performance on tests of visual memory and executive function but not verbal memory. Lower FA in the UF and fornix were related to higher timed scores on the TMT-B (P < 0.01), and higher SLF MD was related to higher scores on TMT-B (P < 0.01), confirming worse executive performance in the TIA group. CONCLUSIONS: DTI scans may be useful for detecting microstructural disease in TIA subjects before cognitive symptoms develop. DTI parameters, white matter hyperintensities, and vascular risk factors underly some of the altered neuropsychological measures in TIA subjects.

Trade-Offs in Quality-of-Life Assessment Between the Modified Rankin Scale and Neuro-QoL Measures.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to describe the physical and cognitive health of patients with differing levels of post-stroke disability, as defined by modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores. We also compared cross-sectional correlations between the mRS and the Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders (Neuro-QoL) T-scores to longitudinal correlations of change estimates from each measure. METHODS: Mean Neuro-QoL T-scores representing mobility, dexterity, executive function, and cognitive concerns were compared among mRS subgroups. Fixed-effects regression models with robust standard errors estimated correlations among mRS and Neuro-QoL domain scores and correlations among longitudinal change estimates. These change estimates were then compared to distribution-based estimates of minimal clinically important differences. RESULTS: Seven hundred forty-five patients with ischemic stroke (79%) or transient ischemic attack (21%) were enrolled in this longitudinal observational study of post-stroke outcomes. Larger differences in cognitive function were observed in the severe mRS groups (ie, 4-5) while larger differences in physical function were observed in the mild-moderate mRS groups (ie, 0-2). Cross-sectional correlations among mRS and Neuro-QoL T-scores were high (r = 0.61-0.83), but correlations among longitudinal change estimates were weak (r = 0.14-0.44). CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study undermine the validity and utility of the mRS as an outcome measure in longitudinal studies in ischemic stroke patients. Nevertheless, strong correlations indicate that the mRS score, obtained with a single interview, is efficient at capturing important differences in patient-reported quality of life, and is useful for identifying meaningful cross-sectional differences among clinical subgroups.

Socioeconomic Factors Predicting Depression Differ in the Acute Stage and at 1 year After Ischemic Stroke or TIA.

INTRODUCTION: Considerable depressive symptoms follow stroke in about one third of patients. Initial depressive symptoms may wane after the acute phase of stroke, but persisting depressive symptoms adversely affect rehabilitation and quality of life. We set forth to evaluate predictors of depressive symptoms with a focus on socioeconomic factors. METHODS: We evaluated clinical features and socioeconomic characteristics in 233 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke or TIA. Depressive symptoms could be evaluated in 168 subjects in the acute phase with a repeated testing after a mean of 14.7 months via telephone interview in 116 patients. Survival status, scores on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and disability (modified Rankin scale, mRS) were recorded. RESULTS: In the acute phase, employment status (p = 0.037) and level of education (p = 0.048) whereas one year later dependency (mRS≥3, p = 0.002) and income (p = 0.012) were the significant predictors of the severity of depressive symptoms. A change from independent (mRS≤2) to dependent living predicted worsening depressive symptoms (p = 0.008), whereas improving to functional independence from an initially dependent condition was associated with diminishing depressive symptoms (p = 0.077 for CES-D and p = 0.044 for BDI) in the first year after an acute ischemic cerebrovascular event. CONCLUSIONS: Predictors of the severity of depressive symptoms differed in the acute phase and at follow-up. In addition to disability, education and employment status in the acute phase and income in the late phase predict the severity of depressive symptoms after ischemic stroke or TIA.

Factors Associated With Participation in the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program: Findings From the SUCCEED Trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Self-management programs may improve quality of life and self-efficacy for stroke survivors, but participation is low. In a randomized controlled trial of a complex, multidisciplinary, team-based secondary stroke prevention intervention, we offered participants Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) workshops in addition to clinic visits and home visits. To enhance participation, workshops were facilitated by community health workers who were culturally and linguistically concordant with most participants and scheduled CDSMP sessions at convenient venues and times. Over time, we implemented additional strategies such as free transportation and financial incentives. In this study, we aimed to determine factors associated with CDSMP participation and attendance. METHODS: From 2014 to 2018, 18 CDSMP workshop series were offered to 241 English and Spanish-speaking individuals (age ≥40 years) with recent stroke or transient ischemic attack. Zero-inflated Poisson regression was used to identify factors associated with participation and attendance (ie, number of sessions attended) in CDSMP. Missing values were imputed using multiple imputation methods. RESULTS: Nearly one-third (29%) of intervention subjects participated in CDSMP. Moderate disability and more clinic/home visits were associated with participation. Participants with higher numbers of clinic and home visits (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.06 [95% CI, 1.01-1.12]), severe (IRR, 2.34 [95% CI, 1.65-3.31]), and moderately severe disability (IRR, 1.55 [95% CI, 1.07-2.23]), and who enrolled later in the study (IRR, 1.12 [95% CI, 1.08-1.16]) attended more sessions. Individuals with higher chaos scores attended fewer sessions (IRR, 0.97 [95% CI, 0.95-0.99]). CONCLUSIONS: Less than one-third of subjects enrolled in the SUCCEED (Secondary Stroke Prevention by Uniting Community and Chronic Care Model Teams Early to End Disparities) intervention participated in CDSMP; however, participation improved as transportation and financial barriers were addressed. Strategies to address social determinants of health contributing to chaos and engage individuals in healthcare may facilitate attendance. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01763203.

Working status is related to post stroke/TIA cognitive decline: data from the TABASCO study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Occupational status may influence physical and mental post-stroke outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the association between occupational status and type, or engagement in social and family activities, neuroimaging measures and cognitive decline (CD) in a prospective cohort of stroke patients. METHODS: We included 273 first-ever stroke survivors at working age. All patients underwent 3T MRI at admission, as well as clinical and cognitive assessments at admission, 6, 12 and 24 months thereafter. RESULTS: Ninty nine (36.3%) of the participants were unemployed prior to the stroke. Age, sex, work type, other comorbidities, stroke severity or location were not associated with return to work. Patients who returned to work (87.4%) had better cognitive results and less depressive symptoms than those who retired after the event. Pre-stroke unemployment was associated with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, depression, poorer cognitive scores and brain atrophy. During the follow-up, 11% developed CD. CD was more common among previously unemployed than employed participants (19.2% vs. 6.3%, p = 0.001). Multiple regression adjusted for risk factors, revealed that pre-stroke unemployment was an independent predictor of CD (HR, 3.0; 95% CI: 1.06-8.44). Furthermore, engagement in mentally stimulating jobs decreased the risk for CD. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-stroke unemployment and post-stroke work disruption were each associated with depression and poorer cognitive performance up to two years post-stroke, as well as with brain atrophy at admission. Retirement after the stroke may increase the risk of developing CD. These results highlight the importance of continued employment in preserving cognitive abilities among stroke survivors.

Roles of GABAA receptor α5 subunit on locomotion and working memory in transient forebrain ischemia in mice.

The γ-aminobutyric acid A (GABAA) receptor, which contains a chloride channel, is a typical inhibitory neurotransmitter receptor in the central nervous system. Although the GABAergic neurotransmitter system has been discovered to be involved in various psychological behaviors, such as anxiety, convulsions, and cognitive function, its functional changes under conditions of ischemic pathological situation are still uncovered. In the present study, we attempted to elucidate the functional changes in the GABAergic system after transient forebrain ischemia in mice. A bilateral common carotid artery occlusion for 20 min was used to establish a model of transient forebrain ischemia/reperfusion (tI/R). Delayed treatment with diazepam, a positive allosteric modulator of the GABAA receptor, increased locomotor activity in the open field test and spontaneous alternations in the Y-maze test in tI/R mice, but not in shams. Delayed treatment with diazepam did not alter neuronal death or the number of GABAergic neurons in tI/R mice. However, tI/R induced changes in the protein levels of GABAA receptor subunits in the hippocampus. In particular, the most marked increase in the tI/R group was found in the level of α5 subunit of the GABAA receptor. Similar to delayed treatment with diazepam, delayed treatment with imidazenil, an α5-sensitive benzodiazepine, increased spontaneous alternations in the Y-maze in tI/R mice, whereas zolpidem, an α5-insensitive benzodiazepine, failed to show such effects. These results suggest that tI/R-induced changes in the level of the α5 subunit of the GABAA receptor can alter the function of GABAergic drugs in a mouse model of forebrain ischemia.

BE-FAST: A Sensitive Screening Tool to Identify In-Hospital Acute Ischemic Stroke.

BACKGROUND: Development of acute ischemic stroke in hospitalized patients represents a significant proportion of all cerebral ischemia. Several prehospital stroke scales were developed to screen for acute ischemic stroke in the community. Despite the advent of inpatient stroke alert systems, there is a lack of validated screening tools for the inpatient population. This study aims to assess the validity of BE-FAST (Balance, Eyes, Face, Arm, Speech, Time) as a screening tool for acute ischemic stroke among inpatients. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed all stroke alert activations at a single academic medical center between 2012 and 2016. We classified the triggering symptom as: focal neurologic deficit, aphasia, dysarthria, ataxia/vertigo/dizziness, alteration of consciousness, acute confusion, or headache. BE-FAST was applied retrospectively, and patients were classified as BE-FAST positive or negative. The final diagnosis was classified as acute ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack , intracranial hemorrhage or noncerebrovascular diagnosis. RESULTS: Of 1965 stroke alerts, 489 were among inpatients. The mean age was 63 ± 16.1 years; 57% of patients were women (n = 1121). Acute ischemic stroke was diagnosed in 29% of all the activations (n = 567), transient ischemic attack in 12% (n = 232), intracranial hemorrhage in 8 % (n = 160) and noncerebrovascular in 51% (n = 1006). When comparing inpatient with community-onset stroke alerts, the sensitivity of BE-FAST for diagnosing acute ischemic stroke was 85% versus 94% (P = .005), with a specificity of 43% versus 23% (P < .001), respectively. However, when evaluating in-patients with an intact level of consciousness separately, BE-FAST sensitivity for diagnosing acute ischemic stroke was 92% compared to 94% in the community (P = .579). Among in-patients with acute ischemic stroke who were (1) candidates for reperfusion therapy and (2) diagnosed with acute large vessel occlusion, the sensitivity of BE-FAST was 83% and 94%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to analyze the performance of BE-FAST among hospitalized patients evaluated through the inpatient stroke alert system. We found BE-FAST to be a very sensitive tool for screening for all in-hospital acute ischemic strokes, including inpatients that were candidates for acute reperfusion therapy.