Objective: To examine the effect of a stroke in the basal ganglia on cognitive functioning.
Design: As part of a larger prospective study on the neuropsychological and psychosocial consequences of stroke, 12 patients with a stroke confined to the basal ganglia were examined.
Setting: The patients were assessed in one of the three participating hospitals.
Subjects: The results of 12 patients with a stroke in the basal ganglia (mean age 55 years), were compared to 24 controls (mean age 54.3 years).
Main outcome measures: Different aspects of memory, attention and concentration, visuospatial and visuoconstructive functions, language and arithmetic were assessed using neuropsychological tests.
Results: The data show a significant abnormality in cognitive functioning on all cognitive domains.
Conclusions: The results stress the notion that subcortical damage may lead to substantial neuropsychological disorders and have clear implications for neurological rehabilitation.