In a recent study, 29 patients who had carotid L stenosis (narrowing of the artery in the neck) underwent carotid artery stenting, in which the narrowed artery is expanded with a balloon and a metal tube known as a stent. All of the patients were given neuropsychological tests 24 hours before the procedure and 48 hours after.
Result: Cognitive function increased by nearly 6% after stenting.
Theory: Stenting increases blood flow to the brain, which improves cognitive function. This finding contradicts previous studies that suggested that stenting may cause a slight decrease in cognitive function. More research is under way.
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