Article

Objectives This study assessed cognitive performance of subjects with aphasia
during the acute stage of stroke and evaluated how such performance relates to
recovery at 3 months. Materials & methods Patients with aphasia following a left
hemisphere stroke were evaluated during the first (baseline) and the fourth-month
post onset. Assessment comprised non-verbal tests of attention/processing speed
(Symbol Search, Cancelation Task), executive functioning (Matrix Reasoning, Tower
of Hanoi, Clock Drawing, Motor Initiative), semantic (Camel and Cactus Test),
episodic and immediate memory (Memory for Faces Test, 5 Objects Memory Test, and
Spatial Span. Recovery was measured by the Token Test score at 3 months. The
impact of baseline performance on recovery was evaluated by logistic regression
adjusting for age, education, severity of aphasia and the Alberta Stroke Program
Early CT (ASPECT) score. Results Thirty-nine subjects (with a mean of 66.5 +/-
10.6 years of age, 17 men) were included. Average baseline cognitive performance
was within normal range in all tests except in memory tests (semantic, episodic
and immediate memory) for which scores were </=-1.5sd. Subjects with poor aphasia
recovery (N = 27) were older and had fewer years of formal education but had
identical ASPECT score compared to those with favorable recovery. Considering
each test individually, the score obtained on the Matrix Reasoning test was the
only one to predict aphasia recovery (Exp(B)=24.085 p = 0.038). Conclusions The
Matrix Reasoning Test may contribute to predict aphasia recovery. Cognitive
performance is a measure of network disruption but may also indicate the
availability of recovery strategies.

Langue : ANGLAIS