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Correlation between sleep and cognitive functions after hemispheric ischaemic stroke
Author(s) -
Siccoli M. M.,
RölliBaumeler N.,
Achermann P.,
Bassetti C. L.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
european journal of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1468-1331
pISSN - 1351-5101
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2008.02119.x
Subject(s) - medicine , ischaemic stroke , correlation , stroke (engine) , cognition , sleep (system call) , physical medicine and rehabilitation , cardiology , psychiatry , ischemia , mechanical engineering , geometry , mathematics , computer science , engineering , operating system
Background: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis of a link between sleep and cognitive functions, particularly memory and attention, after stroke. Methods: We studied 11 consecutive patients with first‐ever hemispheric ischaemic stroke within eight days after symptoms onset and nine of them at least three months after stroke. Sleep EEG was recorded with a portable system. Cognitive functions were assessed using a standardized battery of tests allowing the estimation of the most relevant domains of cognition. Five age‐matched healthy subjects served as controls. Results: The patients were aged 43 ± 12 years (18–59). In five patients stroke was right‐sided and in six patients left‐sided. In the acute stroke phase a correlation between attention and amounts of slow wave sleep (SWS), Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and sleep efficiency was found. In the recovery phase verbal/figural memory and attention significantly improved in most patients. Furthermore, an association between (i) verbal/figural (non‐verbal) memory and amounts of SWS, REM sleep and sleep efficiency, and between (ii) attention and sleep efficiency was observed. Conclusions: The results point to a link between sleep and cognitive functions and their recovery after hemispheric stroke. Further studies are needed to determine the specific nature of this link.