Working Memory Impairment in Transient Ischaemic Attack: N-back as a Sensitive Measure for Detection

Smith, Laura, Gregory, Polly, Clatworthy, Philip, Gallop, Lucy, Stothart, George (2023) Working Memory Impairment in Transient Ischaemic Attack: N-back as a Sensitive Measure for Detection. Brain Impairment, 24 (1). pp. 124-131. ISSN 1443-9646. E-ISSN 1839-5252. (doi:10.1017/BrImp.2021.25) (Access to this publication is currently restricted. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:92396)

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1017/BrImp.2021.25

Abstract

Background: Transient ischaemic attack (TIA) can lead to lasting changes in brain structure and function resulting in cognitive impairment. Cognitive screening tools may lack sensitivity for detecting cognitive impairments, particularly executive function, which tends to be the earliest affected domain in vascular cognitive impairment.

Aim: In this preliminary study, we examine a working memory (WMem) task as a sensitive measure of

cognitive impairment in TIA.

Method: Patients referred to a TIA clinic for transient neurological symptoms completed a general cognitive screening tool (Montreal Cognitive Assessment; MoCA), and a WMem task (2-N-back) in a cross-sectional design.

Results: TIA patients (n = 12) showed significantly reduced WMem performance on the N-back compared to patients diagnosed with mimic clinical conditions with overlapping symptoms (n = 16). No group

differences were observed on the MoCA.

Conclusions: Assessing WMem may provide a sensitive measure of cognitive impairment after TIA, with

implications for cognitive screening in TIA services to triage patients for further neuropsychological support, or for interventions to prevent vascular dementia.

Item Type:	Article
DOI/Identification number:	10.1017/BrImp.2021.25
Uncontrolled keywords:	Working memory; transient ischaemic attack; sensitivity (d'); N-back
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine
Divisions:	Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Depositing User:	Laura Smith
Date Deposited:	20 Dec 2021 08:47 UTC
Last Modified:	14 Jul 2023 12:45 UTC
Resource URI:	https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/92396 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Smith, Laura.

Creator's ORCID:	https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3275-1530
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