Цель. Оценить состояние нейропсихологического статуса пациентов со стабильной ишемической болезнью сердца (ИБС) и определить факторы, на него влияющие. Материал и методы. Обследовано 272 мужчины в возрасте 45-69 лет. Нейропсихологический статус пациента с ИБС комплексным способом был представлен в виде его интегрального показателя. Результаты. Выявлено, что интегральный показатель нейропсихологического статуса почти в 2 раза ниже данного показателя здоровых лиц того же возраста (0,47 [0,35; 0,59] и 0,8 [0,72; 0,87, (p<0,0001)). Установлено, что наиболее значимыми факторами, влияющими на нейропсихологический статус пациента с ИБС, являются возраст (p=0,00271), количество лет обучения (p=0,033), фракции выброса левого желудочка (p=0,018), а также концентрация в плазме триглицеридов (ТГ) (p=0,003). Выводы. Комплексный способ оценки нейропсихологического статуса у пациентов с ИБС позволяет оценить и представить его в виде единого показателя, а также определить степень его отклонения от статуса здоровых лиц. Факторами, негативно влияющими на состояние нейропсихологического статуса у пациентов с ИБС, являются возраст, количество лет образования, ФВ ЛЖ и концентрация в плазме крови ТГ.

Background: The multi-tasking approach may be promising for cognitive rehabilitation in cardiac surgery patients due to a significant effect on attentional and executive functions. This study aimed to compare the neuropsychological changes in patients who have undergone two variants of multi-tasking training and a control group in the early postoperative period of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods: One hundred and ten CABG patients were divided into three groups: cognitive training (CT) I (a postural balance task with mental arithmetic, verbal fluency, and divergent tasks) (n = 30), CT II (a simple visual–motor reaction with mental arithmetic, verbal fluency, and divergent tasks) (n = 40), and control (n = 40). Results: Two or more cognitive indicators improved in 93.3% of CT I patients, in 72.5% of CT II patients, and in 62.5% of control patients; CT I patients differed from CT II and control (p = 0.04 and p = 0.008, respectively). The improving short-term memory and attention was found more frequently in the CT I group as compared to control (56.7% vs. 15%; p = 0.0005). The cognitive improvement of all domains (psychomotor and executive functions, attention, and short-term memory) was also revealed in CT I patients more frequently than CT II (46.7% vs. 20%; p = 0.02) and control (46.7% vs. 5%; p = 0.0005). Conclusions: The CT I multi-tasking training was more effective at improving the cognitive performance in cardiac surgery patients as compared to CT II training and standard post-surgery management. The findings of this study will be helpful for future studies involving multi-tasking training.

Background: There is growing interest in finding methods to enhance cognitive function and comprehend the neurophysiological mechanisms that underlie these improvements. It is assumed that non-pharmacological interventions have better results in cognitive recovery. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of multi-task cognitive training (MTT) on electroencephalographic (EEG) changes and markers of the neurovascular unit in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods: This prospective cohort study involved 62 CABG patients aged 45–75 years, 30 of whom underwent a 5–7-day MTT course. The groups of patients were comparable with respect to baseline clinical and anamnestic characteristics. An EEG study was performed before surgery and 11–12 days after CABG. Markers of the neurovascular unit (S100β, NSE, and BDNF) were examined at three time points: before surgery, within the first 24 h after surgery, and 11–12 days after CABG. Results: Patients without training demonstrated higher relative theta power changes compared to the MTT patients. The course of MTT was associated with low plasma S100β concentration but high BDNF levels at the end of the training course. Conclusions: The theta activity changes and the markers of the neurovascular unit (S100β, BDNF) indicated that the severity of brain damage in cardiac surgery patients after a short course of MTT was slightly reduced. Electrical brain activity indicators and vascular markers can be informative for monitoring the process of cognitive rehabilitation in cardiac surgery patients.

Background: The use of virtual reality (VR) has great potential for medical research and practice, which can help expand rehabilitation activities. This study aimed to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of the original protocol VR multitasking cognitive training (CT) in both a healthy group and cardiac surgery patients. Methods: A specialized hardware and software complex was developed and tested on both a group of 25 practically healthy individuals, mean age 22.9 years (SD 2.57), and 25 cardiac surgery patients, mean age 62.2 years (SD 7.35). The participants were instructed to complete one session of multitasking CT within the VR complex. Psychometric testing and EEG studies were conducted. Results: All participants were highly accepting of the intended future use, attitude, and pleasure of the training. The healthy subjects demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in attention and spatial skills after VR (p ˂ 0.05). The EEG data revealed a significant increase in alpha power compared to pre-experiment levels (p ˂ 0.0001). The theta/alpha ratio significantly decreased after the VR multitasking CT as compared to the baseline (p ˂ 0.0001). Conclusions: The data obtained indicate that the original training protocol for multitasking CT using VR is acceptable and easy to use for both healthy individuals and cardiac surgery patients.

Background: The negative effects of high-grade carotid stenosis on the brain are widely known. However, there are still insufficient data on the brain state in patients with small carotid stenosis and after isolated or combined coronary and carotid surgery. This EEG-based study aimed to analyze the effect of carotid stenosis severity on associated brain activity changes and the neurophysiological test results in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with or without carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Methods: One hundred and forty cardiac surgery patients underwent a clinical and neuropsychological examination and a multichannel EEG before surgery and 7–10 days after surgery. Results: The patients with CA stenoses of less than 50% demonstrated higher values of theta2- and alpha-rhythm power compared to the patients without CA stenoses both before and after CABG. In addition, the patients who underwent right-sided CABG+CEA had generalized EEG “slowdown” compared with isolated CABG and left-sided CABG+CEA patients. Conclusions: The on-pump cardiac surgery accompanied by specific re-arrangements of frequency–spatial patterns of electrical brain activity are dependent on the degree of carotid stenoses. The information obtained can be used to optimize the process of preoperative and postoperative management, as well as the search for neuroprotection and safe surgical strategies for this category of patients.

Background: Digital technologies offer innovative opportunities for recovering and maintaining intellectual and mental health. The use of a multitask approach that combines motor component with various cognitive tasks in a virtual environment can optimize cognitive and physical functions and improve the quality of life of cardiac surgery patients. This study aimed to localize current sources of theta and alpha power in patients who have undergone virtual multitask training (VMT) and a control group in the early postoperative period of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods: A total of 100 male CABG patients (mean age, 62.7 ± 7.62 years) were allocated to the VMT group (n = 50) or to the control group (n = 50). EEG was recorded in the eyes-closed resting state at baseline (2–3 days before CABG) and after VMT course or approximately 11–12 days after CABG (the control group). Power EEG analysis was conducted and frequency-domain standardized low-resolution tomography (sLORETA) was used to assess the effect of VMT on brain activity. Results: After VMT, patients demonstrated a significantly higher density of alpha-rhythm (7–9 Hz) current sources (t > −4.18; p < 0.026) in Brodmann area 30, parahippocampal, and limbic system structures compared to preoperative data. In contrast, the control group had a marked elevation in the density of theta-rhythm (3–5 Hz) current sources (t > −3.98; p < 0.017) in parieto-occipital areas in comparison to preoperative values. Conclusions: Virtual reality-based multitask training stimulated brain regions associated with spatial orientation and memory encoding. The findings of this study highlight the importance of neural mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of multitask interventions and will be useful for designing and conducting future studies involving VR multitask training.