Publication Details
Abstract
Chronic cerebral ischemia is a major cause of progressive neurological and cognitive decline, particularly among adult and elderly populations. This study aimed to investigate early diagnostic approaches for detecting cognitive impairment in patients with chronic cerebral ischemia and to evaluate the clinical characteristics of cognitive decline. The study was conducted at the Republican Scientific and Practical Center of Sports Medicine and involved 64 patients diagnosed with chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency. A comprehensive diagnostic approach was applied, including neurological examination, neuropsychological assessment using Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), as well as instrumental investigations such as neuroimaging. The findings revealed that cognitive impairment was highly prevalent among the participants, with mild cognitive impairment being the most common condition. The most frequently observed deficits involved attention, memory, and executive functioning, which are closely associated with disturbances in cerebral blood flow. Instrumental findings supported the presence of chronic vascular changes affecting brain structures. The study highlights that cognitive decline often develops gradually and may remain undetected without targeted screening. Early identification through standardized neuropsychological tools combined with clinical and instrumental assessment is essential for timely intervention and prevention of further neurological deterioration.