Stroke Severity, Caregiver Feedback, and Cognition in the REGARDS-CARES Study.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment after stroke is common and is present in up to 60% of survivors. Stroke severity, indicated by both volume and location, is the most consequential predictor of cognitive impairment, with severe strokes predicting higher chances of cognitive impairment. The current investigation examines the associations of 2 stroke severity ratings and a caregiver-report of poststroke functioning with longitudinal cognitive outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred fifty-seven caregivers and stroke survivor dyads participated in the CARES (Caring for Adults Recovering From the Effects of Stroke) project, an ancillary study of the REGARDS (Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke) national cohort study. The Glasgow Outcome Scale and modified Rankin Scale scores collected at hospitalization discharge were included as 2 primary predictors of cognitive impairment. The number of caregiver-reported problems and impairments at 9 months following stroke were included as a third predictor. Cognition was measured using a biennial telephone battery and included the domains of learning, memory, and executive functioning. Multiple cognitive assessments were analyzed up to 5 years poststroke, controlling for prestroke cognition and demographic variables of the stroke survivor. Separate mixed models showed significant main effects of the Glasgow Outcome Scale (b=0.3380 [95% CI, 0.14-0.5]; P=0.0009), modified Rankin Scale (b=-0.2119 [95% CI, -0.32 to -0.10]; P=0.0002), and caregiver-reported problems (b=-0.0671 [95% CI, -0.09 to -0.04]; P<0.0001) on longitudinal cognitive scores. In a combined model including all 3 predictors, only caregiver-reported problems significantly predicted cognition (b=-0.0480 [95% CI, -0.08 to -0.03]; P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings emphasize the importance of caregiver feedback in predicting cognitive consequences of stroke.

Long COVID Brain Fog Treatment: Findings from a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Constraint-Induced Cognitive Therapy.

Purpose: Long COVID brain fog is often disabling. Yet, no empirically-supported treatments exist. This study's objectives were to evaluate feasibility and efficacy, provisionally, of a new rehabilitation approach, Constraint-Induced Cognitive Therapy (CICT), for post-COVID-19 cognitive sequelae. Design: Sixteen community-residents ≥ 3-months post-COVID-19 infection with mild cognitive impairment and dysfunction in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) were enrolled. Participants were randomized to Immediate-CICT or treatment-as-usual (TAU) with crossover to CICT. CICT combined behavior change techniques modified from Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy with Speed of Processing Training, a computerized cognitive-training program. CICT was deemed feasible if (a) ≥80% of participants completed treatment, (b) the same found treatment highly satisfying and at most moderately difficult, and (c) <2 study-related, serious adverse-events occurred. The primary outcome was IADL performance in daily life (Canadian Occupational Performance Measure). Employment status and brain fog (Mental Clutter Scale) were also assessed. Results: Fourteen completed Immediate-CICT (n=7) or TAU (n=7); two withdrew from TAU before their second testing session. Completers were [M (SD)]: 10 (7) months post-COVID; 51 (13) years old; 10 females, 4 males; 1 African American, 13 European American. All the feasibility benchmarks were met. Immediate-CICT, relative to TAU, produced very large improvements in IADL performance (M=3.7 points, p<.001, d=2.6) and brain fog (M=-4 points, p<.001, d=-2.9). Four of five non-retired Immediate-CICT participants returned-to-work post-treatment; no TAU participants did, p=.048. Conclusions: CICT has promise for reducing brain fog, improving IADL, and promoting returning-to-work in adults with Long COVID. Findings warrant a large-scale RCT with an active-comparison group.

Social Support Networks Among Black Caregivers of Persons With Memory Problems.

Positive social support can predict health outcomes in populations that experience significant burdens, such as minority caregivers. The purpose of the current study was to detail the social network (SN) of 36 Black family caregivers (FCGs) for persons with memory problems (PWMP) and examine differences in SN support depending on FCG gender and relationship to the care recipient. Participants were recruited from the Alzheimer's family program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the local community. FCGs were categorized into adult children (ACH), grandchildren and in-law children, and friends and other relatives. FCGs described the amount of adequate support they receive for different types of support from their SN. Female FCGs reported higher levels of support overall, with the largest effect sizes including social (d = 0.63), emotional (d = 0.64), and financial (d = 0.38) support. The largest effect size comparison of caregiver relationship type was in social support, with the ACH group reporting the lowest levels of adequate social support compared to the other two groups (d = 0.48). Findings suggest that different types of Black FCGs face unique challenges depending on their gender and familial relationship to the care recipient. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 50(1), 22-29.].

Stroke Severity, Caregiver Feedback, and Cognition in the REGARDS-CARES Study.

Objective: Cognitive impairment after stroke is common, present up to 60% of survivors. Stroke severity, indicated by both volume and location, is the most consequential predictor of cognitive impairment, with severe strokes predicting higher chances of cognitive impairment. The current investigation examines the associations of two stroke severity ratings and a caregiver-report of post-stroke functioning with longitudinal cognitive outcomes. Methods: The analysis was conducted on 157 caregivers and stroke survivor dyads who participated in the Caring for Adults Recovering from the Effects of Stroke (CARES) project, an ancillary study of the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) national cohort study. Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) collected at hospitalization discharge were included as two primary predictors of cognitive impairment. The number of caregiver-reported problems and impairments at nine months following stroke were included as a third predictor. Cognition was assessed using a biennial telephone battery, incorporating multiple cognitive assessments to assess learning, memory, and executive functioning. Longitudinal cognitive scores were analyzed up to five years post-stroke, controlling for baseline (pre-stroke) cognitive scores and demographic variables of each stroke survivor collected at CARES baseline. Results: Separate mixed models showed significant main effects of GOS (b=0.3280, p=0.0009), mRS (b=-0.2119, p=0.0002), and caregiver-reported impairments (b=-0.0671, p<0.0001) on longitudinal cognitive scores. In a combined model including all three predictors, only caregiver-reported problems significantly predicted cognitive outcomes (b=-0.0480, p<0.0001). Impact: These findings underscore the importance of incorporating caregivers feedback in understanding cognitive consequences of stroke.