Transient Ischemic Attack Cognitive Dysfunction And Negative Emotions

ObjectiveTo examine cognitive impairments and negative emotions in patients with transient ischemic attack(TIA).MethodsCognitive impairments and negative emotions were assessed in 56 TIA patients and 60 healthy controls. Cognitive impairments were tested using Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA) and Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE), negative emotions were tested using self-rating depression scale (SDS) and self-rating anxiety scale (SAS).Results(1) Scores of MoCA and MMSE in the TIA group were significantly lower than those in the control group, while Scores of SDS and SAS in the TIA group were significantly higher (t=4.621～10.454, P<0.01).(2) MoCA subitems such as space/ executive function score, named score, delayed memory score of the TIA group were significantly lower than that of the control group (t=2.437,2.778,1.985, P<0.05).(3) MMSE subitems such as immediate memory score, attention and calculation score, language ability score were significantly lower than that of the control group (t=4.419,4.156, P<0.01).(4) The sensitivity of MoCA were obviously higher than that of MMSE in evaluating cognitive impairment of TIA patients(x2=6.423, P<0.05).ConclusionsPatients with TIA exist cognitive impairments, which mainly including aspects of space/executive function, name and delayed memory. MoCA maybe a better measure than MMSE in evaluating cognitive impairments of TIA patients. Patients with TIA also exist depression and anxiety to some extent.