Abstract: ObjectiveTo evaluate the cognitive impairment and the related factors in patients after first lacunar infarct （LI）. Methods96 patients with LI and 40 controls were assessed with mini-mental state examination（MMSE）, digit span test （DST）, verbal fluency test （VFT）and clock drawing test （CDT）. ResultsThe scores of MMSE, DST, VFT and CDT were significantly lower in LI group than in control group (P＜0.05). Cognitive impairment occurred in 37 (38.5%) patients with LI after first stroke. The scores of MMSE, DST, VFT and CDT were lower in the patients with multiple infarcts than with single infarct (P＜0.05), and lower in patients with infarcts affecting the frontal lobe, thalamus and basal ganglia than affecting other area (P＜0.05). The scores of MMSE were lower in the patients with prior vascular risk factors than without risk factors (P＜0.05). ConclusionLacunar infarction usually leads to cognitive impairment. Cognitive function is associated with multiple infarcts, lesions affecting the frontal lobe, thalamus and basal ganglia and those with prior vascular risk factors.

Key words: lacunar infarct, cognitive impairment, mini-mental state examination, digit span test, verbal fluency test, clock drawing test