Cerebral changes on MRI and cognitive function: the CASCADE study.
The aging, non-demented brain undergoes several physiological changes, some of which may affect cognitive function. The goal of the present study was to examine the associations between subcortical and periventricular white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), cortical and subcortical atrophy, and cognitive function (episodic memory, word fluency, attention, and perceptual, cognitive, and motor speed). This was done within a European collaborative study, Cardiovascular Determinants of Dementia (CASCADE), in which magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on community-dwelling individuals. The study includes 1254 persons from eight European study centers, ranging between 64 and 76 years of age (M 69.4+/-3.3; 55% men). When demographics (age, education, and sex), study center, and concurrent brain changes had been adjusted for, periventricular WMHS predicted lower performance in word fluency and the Stroop test (time), and subcortical atrophy predicted lower performance in motor speed and the Stroop test (errors). The findings are consistent with findings from lesion and functional neuroimaging studies.
Söderlund
Hedvig
H
The Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, Toronto, Canada, and Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden. hedvig@rotman-baycrest.on.ca
Nilsson
Lars-Göran
LG
Berger
Klaus
K
Breteler
Monique M
MM
Dufouil
Carole
C
Fuhrer
Rebecca
R
Giampaoli
Simona
S
Hofman
Albert
A
Pajak
Andrzej
A
de Ridder
Maria
M
Sans
Susana
S
Schmidt
Reinhold
R
Launer
Lenore J
LJ
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology*; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012923:Social Class