Chen H, et al. - Researchers explored the potential relationship between vitamin D levels in the short-term acute phase of ischemic stroke and cognitive impairment at 1 month among 354 consecutively enrolled ischemic stroke patients. Study participants were assessed for serum levels of vitamin D within 24 hours after admission and cognitive function (by the Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE]) at 1 month after acute ischemic stroke. MMSE scores revealed cognitive impairment in 114 participants (32.2%) at 1 month. Cognitive impairment was more frequently noted among patients with vitamin D deficiency vs those with vitamin D insufficiency and vitamin D sufficiency. Vitamin D deficiency in the short-term phase of ischemic stroke was, thus, identified to be associated with a higher incidence of 1-month cognitive impairment irrespective of established risk factors.