Pego Pérez, Emilio RubénBermello López, LourdesGómez Fernández, EvaMarín Arnés, María del RosarioFernández Vázquez, MercedesTouza González, CarlotaNúñez Hernández, María Irene2025-10-092025-10-092025-10-08Pego Pérez, E.R.; Bermello López, L.; Gómez Fernández, E.; Marín Arnés, M.d.R.; Fernández Vázquez, M.; Touza González, C.; Núñez Hernández, M.I. Cognitive, Functional, and Emotional Recovery in Patients with Stroke: A Multidimensional Prospective Analysis. Neurol. Int. 2025, 17, 164. https://doi.org/10.3390/ neurolint171001642035-8377https://hdl.handle.net/10347/43026Background: Stroke is a major cerebrovascular disease characterized by disrupted cerebral blood flow, leading to neuronal damage and significant physical, cognitive, and emotional sequelae. While advancements in acute stroke management have improved survival rates, long-term complications such as cognitive impairment and depression continue to hinder recovery. This study addresses these dimensions within the context of ischemic stroke. Aim: The aim of this study was to analyze the cognitive status, functionality, and depressive symptoms in patients with ischemic stroke, exploring interrelations between cognitive, functional, and emotional outcomes to prioritize clinical interventions. Design: This was an analytical, observational, cohort, and prospective study. Methods: The study included 81 subjects diagnosed with ischemic stroke admitted to the Neurology Department of Lucus Augusti University Hospital. Data were collected at three time points—admission, discharge, and follow-up—using validated instruments such as the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, Mini-Mental State Examination, Barthel Index, and Beck Depression Inventory. Statistical analyses included Spearman’s correlation, Kruskal–Wallis, and Mann–Whitney tests. Results: Patients with greater cognitive impairment at admission showed poorer functional recovery and higher depressive symptoms during follow-up. Depressive symptoms remained minimal in most cases, but correlations with cognitive and functional deficits were significant. NIHSS scores at admission strongly predicted both functional and emotional recovery, reinforcing its value in early prognosis and therapeutic planning. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of integrating cognitive, functional, and emotional dimensions into stroke care protocols to optimize patient recovery and improve long-term outcomes.eng© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. Attribution 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Ischemic strokeTransient ischemic attackTissue plasminogen activatorFunctional statusCognitive dysfunctionMMSEMini mental state examinationDepressionSurveys and questionnaires2490 Neurocienciasjournal article10.3390/neurolint17100164open access