Cognitive Performance after a Transient Ischemic Attack: Attention, Working Memory, and Learning and Memory

This prospective study aimed to explore the three main areas of cognitive function (attention; working memory; and, learning and memory) among individuals who had experienced a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Convenience sampling was used to recruit 52 individuals, who had experienced a TIA, from outpatient and emergency departments in three tertiary hospitals, in Bangkok, and one tertiary hospital in Ayutthaya province, Thailand; as well as 52 persons, who had experienced minor surgery and served as matched control subjects, from the outpatient department at a tertiary hospital in Thailand. Subjects were assessed, 3, 10 and 30 days after experiencing a TIA or having minor surgery, using the Necker Cube Pattern Control Test, Trial Making A Test, Digit Span Forward and Backward Test, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, Irritability Assessment Scale, Digit Symbol Substitution Test, and Hopkins Verbal Learning Test. A repeated-measures-within-and-across-subjects design was used to analyze the results. Findings indicate that those who had a TIA continued to experience attention, working memory, and learning and memory changes, but not irritability changes, for over 30 days after symptom occurrence. Three days after symptom occurrence, those who had a TIA showed less ability in the 3 main cognitive performances than did the control group. Their performance ability became worse at day 10, but improved at day 30. All performances among those with a TIA were lower than the control group, at all three time points. Thus, nurses should be concerned about the cognitive ability of those who have had a TIA, as well as their respective families, and provide information to both about the effects of a TIA, particularly 10 days after symptom occurrence.