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Correct me if I'm wrong, please, but it sounds like one of the takeaways from the Bologna conference is that the damages of MS may be due to mild-but-sustained Ischemic hypoxia (or "hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy"), caused by screwed up flow dynamics in the brain.

Brain hypoxia is the condition in which there is a decrease in the oxygen supply to the brain even though there is adequate blood flow. If hypoxia lasts for long periods of time, coma, seizures, and even brain death may be induced. Symptoms of brain hypoxia are inattentiveness, poor judgment, memory loss, and a decrease in motor coordination.

I have heard reports of the stent patients feeling like someone switched their brains to High Def ... is this only a visual change, or have people noticed clearer thinking and better executive function?

My memory has gotten atrocious over the years, almost frighteningly so, and I have a really hard time planning and holding things together in my head like I used to do easily.

It's like the standard MS symptom, "forget what you're saying in midsentence," but writ large.

And it's scary.

The researchers found that hypoxia-ischemia leads to increased tPA activity. The enzyme then damages the brain blood vessels and the blood-brain barrier. The blood-brain barrier is a protective system designed to prevent invasions of blood-borne materials, in particular inflammatory cells or potential contaminants, into the central nervous system.

Anyone have experience with memory/cognition improving post stent surgery? Or reasons to hope?

I don't have an answer, but ischemia is being given a prominent role in CCSVI. Strictly speaking, isn't ischemia a lack of blood flow, in this case to the brain and or spinal/cord? I thought that in CCSVI the main problems were increased pressure through the venous occlusion and/or reflux back into the cebebral veins, not a lack of blood.

Ischemia in this case means a lack of oxygenated blood.

The deoxygenated blood is backed up because of poor flow.

Zap, that is exactly what it seems to be, people's results will vary wildly though and so much is coming out of Bologna that the treatment may be very different in even a few months.

It's an exciting time and nobody has all the answers but some of the smartest people in the world are involved now so hopefully things will move even quicker.

Zap, I had described the post stent experience as feeling like I went from digital to HD. I meant that there was (and still is) an aliveness and clarity that is multi-dimensional. I literally saw it, visually, but felt it in terms of stamina and energy. I also felt that everything, including my intake and processing of the world, was clearer. So I do think that encompasses cognition and memory. I didn't feel like I was struggling with cognition or memory previously, so it's hard to gauge improvement, but I definitely can tell there is a difference in that I am sharper for much longer in the course of the day. I think I probably faded some by evening in the past - - I know that is more about stamina/fatigue than cognition/memory, but for me they are related.
So, I hope this answers your question in some way. My personal opinion is that when the blood flows better, there is definitely lots to be hopeful about.