Cognitive Decline and Underlying Mechanisms in Symptomatic Intracranial Artery Stenosis Patients: A Cohort Study

Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 18 and 80 years * Severe stenosis (≥70%-99%) of atherosclerotic internal carotid artery (C6 segment, C7 segment) or middle cerebral artery (M1 segment) confirmed by digital subtraction angiography (DSA) or at least two of the following non-invasive examinations: magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), computed tomography angiography (CTA), or transcranial Doppler (TCD) * Transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale \[NIHSS\] score ≤ 4 points) * Right-handed and able to cooperate in neuropsychological tests * At least 14 days post-onset of cerebral infarction or TIA * Signed informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Other diseases that affect cognitive function, such as cerebral hemorrhage, •Parkinson's disease, neurosyphilis, dementia, tumors, etc. * Right upper limb hemiplegia, aphasia, visual field defects, or visual impairments * More than 50% stenosis of the extracranial internal carotid artery, the vertebral artery, or the basilar artery * Vasculitis, moyamoya disease, and cardiogenic stroke * Previous history of head and neck stent implantation, carotid endarterectomy, aneurysm embolization, or other intracranial surgeries