Mild cognitive impairment after viral meningitis in adults.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate cognitive outcome in unselected patients with previously diagnosed viral meningitis.

METHODS

Twenty-one unselected patients were examined neurologically, psychiatrically, and psychometrically 25+/-12 months after the acute stage of viral meningitis. The results were compared with the results of twenty-one healthy controls.

RESULTS

Despite of a very good clinical outcome in the post-meningitis group patients performed significantly worse on tasks concerning non-verbal memory functions (BVRT), attention and speed of cognitive performance (WMS-3) even when there was no sign of parenchymal involvement. Forty percent of the patients were categorised as suffering from mild to moderate cognitive impairment.

CONCLUSIONS

Viral meningitis in adults results in mild cognitive impairment in a significant proportion of patients that is not identified by clinical examination or cognitive screening tests. Nevertheless, even mild deficits in non-verbal learning and cognitive speed might lead to overstrain and handicap in complex situations of daily living and working. We therefore recommend that the neuropsychiatric evaluation of all patients with intracranial infections include neuropsychological testing.