Cognitive Impairment and Decline Are Associated With Carotid Artery Disease in Patients Without Clinically Evident Cerebrovascular Disease

Abstract

The authors conducted a study to determine if left carotid artery disease compared with right carotid artery disease is associated With cognitive impairment as determined on the Mlodi aied Miini-Mlental State Examination. Duplex ultrasonography wsJas used to assess internal carotid artery stenosis and intinamedia thickness of the com mon carotid artery in 4.006 rioht-handedr men and women without a history of stroke, transiert ischernic attack, or carotid endarterectomy. Stenosis f 503tor greater of the left internal carotid was associated with cognitive impairment in 32 patients. After statistical evaluat on, the authors concluded that high-grade stenosis of the left internal carotid artery is associated w th cogn tive impairment ano decline but the persistence of the associaton. after ad ustment for right-sided stenosis, is not due to vascular risk factors or atherosc erosis.