Concepedia

Publication | Open Access

Cerebral white matter lesions, vascular risk factors, and cognitive function in a population‐based study

DOIFull Paper Access

997

Citations

0

References

1994

Year

Monique M.B. Breteler, John C. van Swieten, Michiel L. Bots, D. E. Grobbee, Jacqueline J. Claus, J. H. W. Van Den Hout, F. van Harskamp, H. L. J. Tanghe, Paulus T.V.M. de Jong, J. van Gijn,
Neurology

TLDR

Cerebral white matter lesions are a common MRI finding in elderly individuals. The study examined the prevalence of white matter lesions and their association with cardiovascular and thrombogenic risk factors and cognitive function in a random sample of 111 adults aged 65–84. White matter lesions were identified on MRI, and participants’ cardiovascular risk factors, thrombogenic markers, and cognitive test scores were measured. White matter lesions were present in 27% of participants, increased with age, and were independently linked to history of stroke or myocardial infarction, factor VIIc activity, and fibrinogen; in those aged 65–74 they also correlated with blood pressure, hypertension, and cholesterol, and were associated with lower cognitive scores and subjective decline.

Abstract

Cerebral white matter lesions are a common finding on MRI in elderly persons. We studied the prevalence of white matter lesions and their relation with classic cardiovascular risk factors, thrombogenic factors, and cognitive function in an age- and gender-stratified random sample from the general population that consisted of 111 subjects 65 to 84 years of age. Overall, 27% of subjects had white matter lesions. The prevalence and severity of lesions increased with age. A history of stroke or myocardial infarction, factor VIIc activity, and fibrinogen level were each significantly and independently associated with the presence of white matter lesions. Significant relations with blood pressure level, hypertension, and plasma cholesterol were present only for subjects aged 65 to 74 years. White matter lesions tended to be associated with lower scores on tests of cognitive function and were significantly associated with subjective mental decline. This study suggests that classic cardiovascular risk factors, as well as thrombogenic factors, are associated with white matter lesions in subjects over 65 years of age in the general population, and that these lesions may be related to cognitive function.