Neuropsychological Recovery after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

This study examined the effect of demographic and§clinical variables on recovery of neuropsychological§functioning after SAH. Medical condition and hospital§course, including disease severity and complications,§were recorded prospectively. Demographics including§age, sex, race/ethnicity, primary language, and years§of education were obtained via interview. Three and§12 months after the SAH, participants were invited to§complete a comprehensive neuropsychological battery§in the patient s preferred language, English or§Spanish. Overall cognition and 7 cognitive domains§were assessed: attention, psychomotor speed,§visuospatial skills, language, verbal and visual§memory, and executive functions. Psychomotor speed§and attention recovered over time. Global mental§status 3 months after SAH was the best correlate of§neuropsychological functioning at one year. Factors§that contributed to greater cognitive impairment§after SAH included older age, anterior aneurysm§location, amount and location of blood, infarctions,§cerebral edema, worse clinical grade, male sex, and§not speaking English, but not vasospasm alone.§Findings are discussed in relation to current literature.