Vascular risk factors and white matter hyperintensities in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment.
BACKGROUND
Subjects affected by aMCI are considered at high risk for AD. Nevertheless, the role of both vascular risk factors and WMH is matter of debate.


METHODS
We enrolled consecutively 21 aMCI subjects according to Petersen Criteria; the study included routine screening for dementia, neuropsychological evaluation and brain MRI. Six vascular risk factors were assessed and WMH was quantified by means of a semiautomatic lesion-detection program.


RESULTS
Conversion to AD, according to NINCDS-ADRDA criteria, was 47.6%. Converters tended to be more affected by the most of vascular risk factors while no difference was noted in WMH. The best predictors of conversion to AD were scores obtained at several neuropsychological examination.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that criteria for aMCI identify subjects with a high risk to develop AD. WMH doesn't seem to have a role in progression from aMCI to AD, while some vascular risk factors seem to promote it.
Sepe-Monti
M
M
Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Rome La Sapienza-II Faculty, Via di Grottarossa 1035, Rome 00189, Italy. micaela.sepe_monti@uniroma1.it
Pantano
P
P
Vanacore
N
N
De Carolis
A
A
Bianchi
V
V
Antonini
G
G
Guidoni
S V
SV
Giubilei
F
F
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000647:Amnesia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012307:Risk Factors