Stroke appears to accelerate the rate of cognitive decline.1,2 In the ‘reasons for geographic and racial differences in stroke’ (REGARDS) study, 22,875 people without baseline cognitive impairment were followed, and stroke was associated with declines in global cognition, as well as declines in new learning, verbal memory, and executive function.2 Faster declines were seen in patients who were Black, male, and who experienced cardioembolic or large artery stroke.2
References:
1. Lo JW, Crawford JD, Desmond DW, et al.; Stroke and Cognition (STROKOG) Collaboration. Long-term cognitive decline after stroke: an individual participant data meta-analysis. Stroke 2022; 53 (4): 1318–1327.
2. Levine DA, Wadley VG, Langa KM, et al. Risk factors for poststroke cognitive decline: the REGARDS study (reasons for geographic and racial differences in stroke). Stroke 2018; 49 (4): 987–994.