Transient cerebral ischemic attacks and neuropsychological deficit

Abstract

Patients who experienced carotid distribution transient ischemic attacks (TIA) were administered an extensive neuropsychological battery 2–5 days after the clinical clearing of deficits. Significant impairments were noted on measures of higher cortical functioning, including complex memory, abstract concept formation, perceptual-motor integration, and verbal fluency as compared to both published norms and a control group equated for age and years of education. Results are discussed with regard to the heterogeneity of the TIA population, the relationship of the vascular distribution of the TIA to the observed neuropsychological sequelae, weaknesses in published norms with an aging population, and directions for further research.