Findings of the study of cognitive evoked potentials in persons exposed to radiation

Abstract

Introduction. After exposure to radiation, an increase in the long-term of cerebrovascular pathology is noted in exposed individuals. Cognitive impairments have a growing importance in the pattern of cerebrovascular diseases which significantly deteriorates social and medical forecast of a patient.The objective of the research is to study cognitive evoked potentials in exposed persons with chronic cerebral ischemia (CCI).Materials and methods. Two groups of patients were examined: the main group consisted of 69 persons exposed to radiation as a result of the “Mayak” PA activity, the comparison group included 110 unexposed residents of the Techa riverside settlements who were diagnosed with chronic cerebral ischemia. The following methods were used in the study: clinical, evaluation method of cognitive evoked potentials (EP), and statistical methods.Results. In the course of clinical examination, it was revealed that the number of people with organic cognitive impairment and syndrome of cognitive decline is statistically significantly higher in the group of the exposed persons with CCI (p < 0.001, p = 0.003, respectfully). It was stated that the studied groups were statistically significantly different in N1 peak latency (ð = 0.030), N2 – P3 inter-peak latency (p = 0.003), N2 – N3 inter-peak latency (p = 0.011).Conclusion. According to the results of clinical examination and study of cognitive EP, cognitive impairments are more expressed in the group of the exposed persons with CCI which is manifested in an increase in the number of patients with syndrome of cognitive decline and organic cognitive impairment in this group; in the change of a latency period of a number of components that characterize both the perception process and the very process of recognition and decision-making.