Carotid Disease and Cognitive Dysfunction.

Discusses carotid disease and impaired cognition. Findings of Johnston and colleagues in the prevalence of impaired cognition in patients with high-grade stenosis of the left internal carotid artery but not the right internal carotid; Need for more inclusive studies before accepting this finding as evidence that carotid stenosis causes functionally important cognitive impairment; Example of two clinical trails, in USA and Europe; Alternative to carotid endarterectomy as carotid stenting; Recommendation of medical prophylaxis for most persons with asymptomatic carotid disease.