Vascular health stories

Oct 19, 2026

Carotid artery stenting fails to improve cognition in CREST-H clinical trial

A Columbia-led clinical trial published in JAMA found that opening blockages in the brain's main blood vessels through stenting or surgery does not improve cognitive function, despite hopes that improved blood flow would enhance cognition in patients with clogged carotid arteries.

Oct 19, 20261 source

Top claims

▪The CREST-H clinical trial demonstrated that opening carotid artery blockages through stenting or surgery to increase brain blood flow does not improve cognition compared to medication alone.
▪Cognitive scores improved slightly over one year in both CREST-H trial groups, showing no difference between patients receiving revascularization procedures and those treated with medication alone.
▪The CREST-H study was conducted as part of the larger CREST-2 clinical trial, which aimed to determine the best methods to prevent strokes in people with severe carotid artery blockages.

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