Study Of Working Memory Event-related Potentials In Patients Of Ischemic Leukoaraiosis

Objective:1.To examine the feature of cognitive function in the patients with Ischemic leukoaraiosis using neuropsychology tests and the multi-dimensional cognitive function assessment system.2.To investigate the features of the patients’ event-related potentials(ERPs) with Ischemic leukoaraiosis.Subjects:This study chosed a total of 66 patients withIschemic leukoaraiosis in Department of Neurology ofthe Second Artillery General Hospital(The Rockets Army General Hospital)from 2014 May to 2015 December.According to Fazekas white matter lesion grade evaluation method, they were divided into three groups: normal group,mild group,the moderate to severe group.They completed the following tests and tasks:1)The overall cognitive function assessment:Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA), MinimentalStateExamination(MMSE);neuropsychological tests: Auditory Verbal Learning Test(AVLT);2)The multi-dimensional cognitive function assessment system;3)Using n-back paradigm collected ERPs from the patients with Ischemic leukoaraiosis.Results:1.Compared with the control group, the scores of MoCA, AVLTwere all statically lower(P<0.05)in the mild group.Compared with the control group and the mild group, the sores of neuropsychological tests were statically lower(P<0.05)in the moderate to severe group.2.In the memory process of learning stage and retention, the difference between the mild group and normal group was statistically significant(P < 0.05),the difference betweenthe moderate to severe group and the other two groups in all stage was statistically significant(P<0.05).3.In the tests of visuospatial working memory,there was significant difference between the mild group and normal group(P < 0.05).In the three tests of working memory,there was significant difference between the moderate to severe group and the other two groups(P<0.05).4.Compared with the control group, the P300 latency and amplitude were staticallylower(P<0.05)in the mild group.Compared with the control group and the mild group,the P300 latency and amplitude were statically lower(P<0.05)in themoderate to severe group.Conclusions:1.The study indicates that there are mild cognitive impairment in multiple domains including memory、visuospatial function、executive function and delayed memory in patients in mild group.With the aggravating of the disease,there are much more cognitive domains impairment including attention and language function for the moderate to severe group.2.In the early stage of ischemic leukoaraiosis,the memory impairment is associated with learning and rententionimpairment,while in the late stage,the whole stage are damaged.3.For the patients with mild ischemic leukoaraiosis,the dysfunction of working memory includes visuospatial working memory,while verbal working memory and picture working memory are also affected for the the patiens with sever ischemic leukoaraiosis.4.The abnormal latency and amplitude of P300 are able to reflect the impairmentof working memory for the patients with ischemic leukoaraiosis, which can be used as good indicators of early cognitive impairment caused by ischemic white matter damage in the clinical practice.