Landmark Trial Finds Restoring Blood Flow Does Not Improve Cognition in Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Disease

A major clinical trial led by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham has found that while patients with severe narrowing of the carotid arteries often experience subtle cognitive deficits, restoring blood flow through surgical or minimally invasive procedures does not improve cognitive performance. The findings, which followed participants for up to four years, suggest that the relationship between carotid artery disease and cognition is more complex than previously thought and may involve broader vascular changes affecting the brain.