Thinking Problems Tied to Blockages in Neck Artery
Blockage of the carotid artery in the neck appears to increase the odds for memory and thinking problems according to a new study.
Their findings suggest more aggressive treatment might be needed for people with this condition, which is caused by plaque buildup in the artery.
The focus of diagnosis and management of carotid artery blockages has been prevention of stroke since that was the only harm that these blockages were thought to cause to patients.
"These results underscore the importance of assessing the status of memory and thinking in people with carotid artery narrowing," added a Dr.
In conducting the study, the researchers examined 67 people with symptomless carotid narrowing, or stenosis. For these participants, the diameter of their artery was cut in half. The study also included 60 people who did not have carotid blockage but did have risk factors, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and coronary heart diseases.
Researchers tested participants' thinking ability, examining their processing speed, learning, memory, decision-making and language.
They found participants with carotid blockage performed much worse on the thinking tests. They also scored lower on motor and processing speed evaluations as well as learning and memory tests. The researchers said language scores did not differ between the two groups of participants.
"If these findings are confirmed in larger studies, they hold significant implications for new treatment targets and open the door for more questions such as: should these patients be treated more aggressively with medications, cognitive rehabilitation, or even surgery to open up the artery," the Dr. said . He said he anticipates follow-up studies searching for causes and the best treatment options.
These are only preliminary findings until more tests are done, according to the researchers.
Their findings suggest more aggressive treatment might be needed for people with this condition, which is caused by plaque buildup in the artery.
The focus of diagnosis and management of carotid artery blockages has been prevention of stroke since that was the only harm that these blockages were thought to cause to patients.
"These results underscore the importance of assessing the status of memory and thinking in people with carotid artery narrowing," added a Dr.
In conducting the study, the researchers examined 67 people with symptomless carotid narrowing, or stenosis. For these participants, the diameter of their artery was cut in half. The study also included 60 people who did not have carotid blockage but did have risk factors, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and coronary heart diseases.
Researchers tested participants' thinking ability, examining their processing speed, learning, memory, decision-making and language.
They found participants with carotid blockage performed much worse on the thinking tests. They also scored lower on motor and processing speed evaluations as well as learning and memory tests. The researchers said language scores did not differ between the two groups of participants.
"If these findings are confirmed in larger studies, they hold significant implications for new treatment targets and open the door for more questions such as: should these patients be treated more aggressively with medications, cognitive rehabilitation, or even surgery to open up the artery," the Dr. said . He said he anticipates follow-up studies searching for causes and the best treatment options.
These are only preliminary findings until more tests are done, according to the researchers.
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Labels: blockage, carotid artery, cognitive, decision making, memory, prevention, stroke, thinking
posted by G S Iyer at 11:16 PM
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