Fig. 1.

Distribution of cognitive z-scores taking into account the presence of stroke at diagnosis (MMA patients with stroke in red, without stroke in blue). The dotted line represents the pathological threshold of –2SD. The dot plot represents the mean, the median, the first and third interquartile range, and the standard error of the whole population. The cross represents the mean of each group. None of the cognitive processes examined fell below the threshold of -2SD. When considering the group as a whole, the cognitive domains of speed, inhibition, and working memory exhibited the lowest mean z-scores, suggesting potential areas of impairment. The distributions of scores on the cognitive functions of speed, inhibition, mental flexibility, and anterograde memory were highly variable in MMA patients, indicating a wide range of performance levels within these areas. Interestingly, the presence of a stroke did not lead to more severe cognitive impairment at the group level. This highlights the influence of other factors on cognitive impairment and emphasizes the importance of considering a range of factors beyond stroke history when understanding cognitive outcomes in patients with MMA