Cognitive functions before and 1 year after surgical and endovascular treatment in patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

Background And Purpose: This prospective study investigated whether surgery or endovascular treatment for unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) affects cognitive functions.

Methods: Four neuropsychological variables from an Auditory Verbal Learning Test (overall capacity of verbal memory and delayed recall) and a Trail Making Test (psychomotor speed and cognitive flexibility) were investigated before and 1 year after treatment for UIAs in 65 patients < 61 years of age. This cohort consists of 15 men and 50 women aged 15-60 (mean age 44.9) years.

Results: Group-rate analysis showed a non-significant increase in post-treatment scores in the four neuropsychological variables. In addition, no significant differences were found between the surgical clipping (SC) and endovascular coiling (EC) group. Event-rate analysis demonstrated that two patients from the EC and one from the SC group developed cognitive impairment after treatment.

Conclusions: Surgical and endovascular repair for UIAs do not impair cognition in patients without postoperative restrictions in lifestyle.