Carotid stenting brings mental pep

Stenting of the carotid artery may offer more than reduced stroke risk, especially to patients with impaired brain perfusion. Researchers have found that the procedure improves cognitive speed, verbal fluency, and delayed recall.

"To my knowledge, this is the first study combining neuropsychological testing and perfusion imaging that screens for silent ischemic stroke events that can occur during stenting," said lead investigator Dr. Iris Q. Grunwald, a consultant at Saarland University Clinic in Homburg, Germany, at the RSNA meeting.

After evaluating 26 patients, researchers found a statistically significant increase in cognitive speed following stenting, regardless of the patient's age or the severity of stenosis. Results also indicated a correlation between the degree of stenosis and the ipsilateral perfusion deficit. Patients with perfusion deficits experienced improved memory function after stenting restored blood flow.