Severe cerebral white matter hyperintensities predict severe cognitive decline in patients with cerebrovascular disease history.
OBJECTIVE
Cerebral white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are believed to be the consequence of small vessel disease, and it is uncertain whether their extent predicts the risk of dementia in patients with vascular disease history. Method- Brain MRI was performed in 226 participants of the PROGRESS study. WMH severity was assessed using a visual rating scale. During follow-up, patients were classified for incident severe cognitive deterioration (including dementia) using standard criteria.


RESULTS
Over 4-year follow-up, the incidence of severe cognitive deterioration ranged from 1.1 to 9.1 per 100 person-years in patients with respectively no or severe WMHs at baseline. In multivariable analysis, incident severe cognitive deterioration was associated with baseline severe WMHs (odds ratio=7.7, P<0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Higher WMH load is a strong predictor of dementia and cognitive decline in patients with cerebrovascular disease history.
Dufouil
Carole
C
Godin
Ophélia
O
Chalmers
John
J
Coskun
Oghuzan
O
MacMahon
Stephen
S
Tzourio-Mazoyer
Nathalie
N
Bousser
Marie-Germaine
MG
Anderson
Craig
C
Mazoyer
Bernard
B
Tzourio
Christophe
C
D000368:Aged; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D020913:Perindopril / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012008:Recurrence; D020521:Stroke / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D020913:Perindopril