Jang JW, et al. J Clin Neurol. 2021 Apr;17(2):249-256. https://doi.org/10.3988/jcn.2021.17.2.249

Jeon JH, et al. J Clin Neurol. 2019 Apr;15(2):243-249. https://doi.org/10.3988/jcn.2019.15.2.243

Jo K, et al. Dement Neurocognitive Disord. 2018 Mar;17(1):23-31. https://doi.org/10.12779/dnd.2018.17.1.23

Background: We aimed to examine sex differences in symptom characteristics and pharmacological responses in post-stroke depressive (PSD) symptoms. Methods: This is a post hoc analysis of EMOTION (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01278498), a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial that examined the efficacy of escitalopram for 3 months on depression in patients with acute stroke. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the 10-item Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Baseline characteristics, clinical variables, and treatment responses to escitalopram were compared between male and female patients. Treatment responses were defined as changes in MADRS (total score and its components) between baseline and 3 months and were compared between the escitalopram and placebo groups within each sex group. The least square mean was calculated to determine the independent effect of escitalopram, of which interaction was evaluated with patient sex. Results: Of the 478 patients (intention-to-treat population), 187 (39%) were female. Female patients were significantly older than male patients and demonstrated more severe depressive symptoms at baseline (male vs. female, MADRS score, mean [SD]: 9.7 ± 8.0 vs. 12.2 ± 8.4, p = 0.001), especially in apparent sadness, reported sadness, and reduced appetite items. These differences were significant after adjustment for age and the severity of neurologic deficits. The female escitalopram group showed a significant 3-month improvement in MADRS scores (placebo [n = 86] vs. escitalopram [n = 101], least square mean [95% CI] –2.7 [–4.1 to –1.2] vs. –5.0 [–6.4 to –3.6], p = 0.007), and this efficacy was prominent in apparent sadness, reported sadness, and pessimistic thoughts items. However, there was no significant effect of escitalopram on depressive symptoms in the male group. The treatment responses of escitalopram tended to be more pronounced in the female group, particularly in alleviating a subset of depressive symptoms such as apparent sadness (p for interaction = 0.009). Conclusion: PSD may differ according to sex in its symptom characteristics and treatment responses to escitalopram, and tailored treatment strategies for PSD may therefore be needed.

Numerous efforts have been made to identify biomarkers for predicting the progression of dementia in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and recently, a comprehensive visual rating scale (CVRS) based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been validated to assess structural changes in the brain of elderly patients. Based on this, the present study investigated the use of CVRS for predicting dementia and elucidated its association with cognitive change in patients with MCI over a three-year follow-up. We included 340 patients with MCI with more than one follow-up visit. Data were obtained from the Alzheimer’s disease Neuroimaging Initiative study. We assessed all the patients using CVRS and determined their progression to dementia during a follow-up period of over 3 years. The cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze hazard ratios (HRs) of CVRS for disease progression. Further, multiple cognitive measures of the patients over time were fitted using the random effect model to assess the effect of initial CVRS score on subsequent cognitive changes. Of 340 patients, 69 (20.2%) progressed to dementia and the median baseline score (interquartile range) of CVRS significantly differed between stable MCI and progressive MCI (9 (5–13) vs 13 (8–17), p<0.001). The initial CVRS score was independently associated with an increased risk of progression to dementia (HR 1.123, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.059–1.192). From 12 to 24 months, the effect of the interaction between CVRS and interval of follow-up visit on cognitive performance achieved significance (p<0.001). Baseline CVRS predicted the progression to dementia in patients with MCI, and was independently associated with longitudinal cognitive decline.

Introduction: Ischemic stroke can cause impairment of daily function and cognitive function. Higher cognitive function is reported in many studies to be associated with better functional outcomes; however, evidence from longitudinal study is lacking. Therefore, in the present study, the association between cognitive function and longitudinal changes of functional outcome was investigated based on stroke severity. Furthermore, whether the effect of cognitive function remained consistent after controlling for depression was investigated. Methods: The data of 423 stroke patients (292 minor strokes, 93 moderate strokes, and 38 severe strokes) were collected. Baseline Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score was considered a predictor, and change of modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score during 12 months of follow-up was the outcome. First, the association between the baseline MMSE score and longitudinal change in the mRS score was analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. Fixed effects were MMSE score group, time, and MMSE score group × time interaction. Additional adjustment was made for the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) score. Results: Among the 423 subjects, the mean age was 73.5 years, and 43.4% were female. In the minor stroke group, the high MMSE score group had a decreased mRS score, and the low MMSE score group had an increased mRS score (p < 0.001). This association remained after additional adjustment of the GDS score. Association was not observed between cognitive function and functional recovery in the moderate or severe stroke group. Conclusion: After ischemic stroke, higher baseline global cognitive function was a predictive factor for better functional recovery regardless of depression symptoms in the minor stroke group.