Observation of cognitive function of occupational chronic benzene poisoning patients with Montreal cognitive assessment

Objective The cognitive function of patients with occupational chronic benzene poisoning was investigated.

Methods The Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) was used to survey both 39 patients with occupational chronic benzene poisoning and 39 healthy subjects.

Results The survey showed that difference of MoCA testing scores between these two groups (24.10 ±3.82 vs. 25.36 ±2.34) had no statistical significance(P>0.05). However, there were statistically significant differences of 3 factors including the visuospatial and executive functions, naming functions, and attention between them(P=0.001, 0.029, 0.034, respectively).

Conclusion The patients with occupational chronic benzene poisoning might have damages to central nervous system on aspects related to visuospatial and executive functions, naming functions, and attention.