Influence of Age, Gender and Education Level on Executive Functions and Functioning in People with Stroke

Abstract

Background: Alterations in mental functions are among the most frequent manifestations of stroke that have a direct impact on the patient’s functionality. The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship of sociodemographic variables with the executive functions (EFs) of participants with right middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke. Methods: A cross-sectional observational case-control study was conducted at the State Center for Brain Damage in Madrid, Spain. Fifty-eight subjects were recruited and divided into two groups. Each participant was administered the following: the FIM+FAM Functional Assessment Measure, the Lawton and Brody scale, The Trail-Making Test, the Zoo Map Test and the Hanoi Tower. Results: Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were identified between participants with ischemic stroke and control in functional and EF functions, as well as between participants with hemorrhagic stroke and control. No statistically significant differences were found in the experimental group between subjects who had sustained ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. No significant associations were identified between the variables age, gender and education level in relation to functionality and executive functions (p > 0.05) in people with stroke. Conclusion: People who have suffered a right cerebral artery stroke have deficiencies in the EFS, resulting in poorer performance of the activity of daily living, compared to healthy subjects of the same age, gender and education level. In the correlational analysis of the stroke participants, no significant associations were identified between the variables gender, age and education level in relation to functionality and EF.

Effects of Virtual Reality Cognitive Training on Neuroplasticity: A Quasi-Randomized Clinical Trial in Patients with Stroke

“…Assessment of stroke impairment is fundamental to predict prognosis and functional recovery. To this aim, the NIH stroke scale [5,6], Barthel index [7], and FIM [8] are commonly used in clinical practice, although they lack a specific assessment of cognitive function. Moreover, evidence shows the validity and reliability of the modified Rankin scale (mRS) as a valuable instrument for assessing the impact of new stroke treatments [9].…”

Association between the executive dysfunction and balance function in patients with stroke

“…Thus, mediation analysis has the advantage of creating a model and clarifying causal relationships, and it can be used for disorder structure analysis and determining the effectiveness of rehabilitation. For the current study, factors related to executive function and movement and balance function have been reported to be the degree of paralysis and ADL function in patients with stroke (Lipskaya-Velikovsky et al, 2018;Ownsworth & Shum, 2008;Sakai et al, 2023;Sánchez-Herrera-Baeza et al, 2023;Tanabe et al, 2022). Therefore, we hypothesized and modeled that these factors may be related to executive function and BBS or TUGT as mediating factors.…”