Prospective Memory Following Stroke: Examining the Neurocognitive Correlates and Risk Factors

AbstractBackground: Stroke can result in changes to cognitive, behavioural and emotional functioning. However, relatively few studies have examined prospective memory (PM), which has been linked to functioning in every-day life. PM refers to the ability to remember to carry out a previously planned intention at the appropriate time (time-based) or following a particular event (event-based). The current study will examine PM post stroke using a recently developed short form of the Memory for Intentions Screening Test (MIST; Raskin, Buckheit & Sherrod, 2011; Raskin, Race & Aisenberg, 2016).Method: The MIST-SF was modified to be appropriate for administration in a hospital setting, and administered to 39 individuals who had suffered a first time stroke and 38 age, gender and education matched controls. Correlations between PM functioning and neurocognitive performance, demographic, behavioural and functional characteristics were examined, as well as the relationships between PM performance and clinical characteristics (time since stroke, testing location and hemisphere lateralization).Results: Individuals who experienced a stroke performed more poorly relative to controls in relation to overall PM performance (time-based but not event-based PM). Verbal memory, processing speed, and executive functioning were associated with PM performance, with differential relationships for time-based and event-based PM. Older age, female gender and the executive subscale of the dimensional apathy scale were associated with poorer PM performance within the stroke participant group. Further, inpatients performed more poorly than outpatients during the acute recovery phase.Conclusions: The modified MIST-SF may provide valuable information in clinical settings in relation to the impact of stroke on PM functioning, including the types of errors contributing to PM failure, which may assist clinicians with rehabilitation planning during the acute recovery phase