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Aim: The aim of this study was to assess if pre- and post- event related potentials (ERPs) components after visual stimulation training admitted differences exist in subacute stroke patients and to observe the outcome markers of cognitive functions recovery by using Neurowave system. Materials and Methods: Eighteen ischemic subacute stroke patients were enrolled and underwent to neuropsychological evaluation and ERPs recording at two time points, at baseline (T0) and after 3 months from (T1). All patients were stimulated with customized images for three days a week. Findings: Intra group analysis showed a significance difference in ERPs parameters and neuropsychological tests. Correlation analysis showed a significant relation between neuropsychological and ERP values. Conclusion: Our findings confirm that P300 ERPs' component could be a predictive marker for cognitive recovery of ischemic subacute stroke patients. Intensive programs of neurosensory stimulation could facilitate recovery of cognitive and attentive functions in subacute cerebrovascular disease.

Purpose of the study : Pantothenate Kinase-associated Neurodegeneration (PKAN) is a form of Neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA) due to gene mutations. Classical phenotype showed progressive neurological symptoms associated to a characteristic pattern of basal ganglia iron deposits. The atypical case, with adult-onset manifestation, could have neuropsychiatric symptoms with behavioral deficits. We described an adult-onset case of Pantothenate Kinase-associated Neurodegeneration. Materials and methods : The patient underwent neuropsychological and psychiatric evaluation and Magnetic Resonance Imaging, respectively for cognitive and behavioral assessment and to confirm the characteristic findings of this syndrome. Results : The patient showed atypical phenotype of Pantothenate Kinase-associated Neurodegeneration, characterized by language deficits, dixesecutive, and psychiatric manifestations, such as obsessive ideation, impulsivity, and disinhibition. Conclusions : This description could be helpful to a more correct diagnosis and clinical management.

Object: Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, irreversible neurodegenerative disorder associated with brain alterations. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has contributed to identify degeneration in white matter cortical microstructural that can be considered an early and specific biomarker for Alzheimer's disease. This review aimed to provide a summary of DTI studies on white matter damage in Alzheimer's disease. Methods: On PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases, we reviewed the studies that used DTI for assessing fractional anisotropy in neurofiber tracts involved in Alzheimer's Disease progression: fornix, the cingulum, uncinate fasciculus, superior and inferior longitudinal fasciculus and corpus callosum. We included nine studies that met search criteria. Results: The results showed decreased fractional anisotropy value in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients. White matter diffusivity changes were associated with the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Conclusion: Microstructural alterations of the limbic and cortico-cortical tracts could be potential biomarkers for early diagnosis in preclinical disease phase.

Purpose/aim: Motor imagery (MI) is the mental representation of a movement without engaging its actual execution. MI shares neuroanatomical correlates with brain motor networks. Neurologic disorders affecting motor skills, such as stroke, have been related to impairments in MI. A descriptive review was conducted to explore the effects of stroke on MI ability and its background mechanisms. Materials and Methods: We searched on PubMed and Web of Science databases and screening references of included studies and review articles for additional citations. Results: On a total of 885 studies, only 15 articles met inclusion criteria. Results suggested that MI is impaired after stroke, in implicit and explicit abilities. Impairments in mental chronometry as well as in accuracy and reaction times were observed. Conclusions: Neuroimaging findings confirmed a brain reorganization after a stroke and a compensatory over-usage of contralesional hemisphere was highlighted.

Aim: Migraine is neurological disorder with a complex pathophysiology. We described the neuropsychological profile of 100 migraineurs (50 with visual aura and 50 without aura), in interictal phase, compared to 50 matched healthy controls., Materials and Methods: A battery of standardized neuropsychological tests was used to assess attention, memory and executive functions. Beck Depression Inventory and Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety were used to evaluate anxiety and depressive symptoms. Severity of disability during daily activities was assessed by Migraine Disability Assessment., Results: Migraine without aura showed a significant difference in comparison to healthy controls in semantic verbal fluency (p = 0.02), delayed memory (p < 0.001) and set-shifting (p < 0.001). Migraine with aura showed a significant difference in delayed memory (p = 0.001) and set-shifting (p = 0.005) if compared to healthy controls. No significant correlation between cognitive functions and mood was found (HAM-A p = 0.67) (BDI-II p = 0.42)., Conclusions: Our data showed isolate and specific cognitive deficit during interictal phase in migraine patients. Future studies are need to identify if specific migraine characteristics may affect cognitive functions.

Aim of the Study: Cranioplasty is the surgical repair of skull defects, which commonly is performed after traumatic skull injuries due to tumor removal or decompressive craniectomy. Several studies reported improvement in cognitive functions following cranioplasty in patients with severe brain damage. The reasons why exist such clinical improvement is not completely understood, although the increase in cerebrospinal fluid hydrodynamics with the potential improvement of local and global cerebral hemodynamics, blood flow, and metabolism may play a pivotal role. We investigated whether the cranioplasty improved neurological recovery and the whole array of cognitive functions or just some specific domains., Materials and Methods: A total of 30 consecutive brain-injured subjects with craniectomy were enrolled and underwent a structured neuropsychological assessment immediately before the cranioplasty, 1 month after the cranioplasty and 1 year after the surgical procedure., Results: Our results showed that cranioplasty may facilitate the cognitive recovery, independently from the surgical timing. Particularly, we observed an important cognitive recovery in the period immediately after cranioplasty, while the improvement trend settles after a lapse of time, and the recovery starts to slow down., Conclusions: Cranioplasty seems to significantly improve neuropsychological and motor status in the patients with skull defects, independently from cranioplasty timing and patient's clinical status.