Neuropsychological Study in Patients with Spinal Cord Injuries

Abstract

The present investigation was designed to determinate the nature, pattern, and extent of cognitive deficits in a group of participants with subacute and chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in both patients with subacute and chronic SCI. Different cognitive functions were evaluated through a neuropsychological protocol designed for this purpose, taking into account the patient’s emotional state. Results: A total of 100 patients suffering a spinal cord injury were evaluated. There were no differences between the two groups when age, sex, level of education, and region of origin were studied. The chronic injured patients obtained lower scores in the neuropsychological evaluation protocol respective to the subacute injured patients. Conclusions: Subjects with chronic spinal cord injury presented a cognitive profile that differed greatly in the number of altered cognitive functions as well as in their magnitude from the subacute spinal cord injured patient profile. Moreover, cognitive dysfunction may be important beyond the end of the first stage of rehabilitation as it can affect an individual’s quality of life and possible integration in society.

The Relationship between Cognitive Performance and Quality of Life in Elite Athletes after Spinal Cord Injury

“…In a study by Wang et al (2016), 120 patients with migraine-associated vertigo showed an increased prevalence of white matter lesions in the brain, resulting in marked cognitive impairment and, consequently, a significantly impaired quality of life [ 17 ]. In addition, a study by Molina-Gallego et al (2021) on a group of 100 participants showed that decreased cognitive functioning could negatively affect the quality of life and social interactions, but it was not observed in our study [ 14 ]. The athletes were characterized by the long time that had passed since the accident.…”

“…Studies in mice have shown that extensive post-traumatic inflammation associated with SCI results in neuronal loss, cellular dysfunction through increased endoplasmic reticulum stress and impaired neurogenesis in areas associated with CD and depression [13]. Molina et al (2021) demonstrated the occurrence of cognitive impairment in individuals after SCI already in the subacute phase, which worsened over time [14]. This may not only affect the disruption of the first, most intensive and most important stage of rehabilitation, but may also affect the individual's quality of life and their eventual integration into society [14,15].…”

“…Molina et al (2021) demonstrated the occurrence of cognitive impairment in individuals after SCI already in the subacute phase, which worsened over time [14]. This may not only affect the disruption of the first, most intensive and most important stage of rehabilitation, but may also affect the individual's quality of life and their eventual integration into society [14,15]. This is supported by the findings of Craig et al (2017), who found that the development of negative mood states was a significant problem in individuals with cognitive impairment after their transition to the community, at a time when personal resources were severely limited [4].…”

“…Molina et al (2021) demonstrated the occurrence of cognitive impairment in individuals after SCI already in the subacute phase, which worsened over time [ 14 ]. This may not only affect the disruption of the first, most intensive and most important stage of rehabilitation, but may also affect the individual’s quality of life and their eventual integration into society [ 14 , 15 ].…”

Aspectos emocionais e sexualidade após lesão medular

“…Estudos apontam que os níveis de ansiedade e depressão ficam entre 19 e 30% em pessoas com lesão medular recente. E cerca de 23 a 38% das pessoas com LM possuem transtorno depressivo (CRAIG, 2017;MOLINA-GALLEGO, 2021). Um estudo atual apontou a diferença entre o estado emocional de homens e mulheres após LM, sugerindo que o sexo feminino apresenta uma maior probabilidade (53,6%) de incidência de depressão, se comparado ao sexo masculino (25%) (LI, 2020).…”