Post-stroke dementia and cognitive impairment

The term post-stroke dementia (PSD) is used to define any dementia occurring after stroke irrespective if the leading cause is vascular, degenerative or mixed. PSD is a frequent condition after stroke and its prevalence ranges from 6 to 32%. However, not all cognitive impairment cases following a stroke are enough severe to fit the criteria for dementia. Indeed, many patients after a stroke develop mild cognitive impairment that in some cases can progress to PSD. There is an urgent need to find sensitive tools to detect post-stroke cognitive impairment as early as possible. The detection of cognitive impairment in the acute phase of stroke can offer valid information to the clinician on whether to set an early cognitive rehabilitation and to plan a more focused follow-up.