title: Cerebral microbleeds and cognition: the epidemiology of dementia in Singapore study.
abstract: Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are considered to be a novel marker of cerebral small vessel disease. However, the link with cognitive impairment remains unclear. We investigated whether CMBs-independent of other traditional markers of cerebral small vessel disease-are related to cognition. Chinese subjects from the population-based Singapore Chinese Eye Study, who failed an initial cognitive screening and were recruited into the ongoing Epidemiology of Dementia in Singapore Study, underwent neuropsychological testing and 3 T brain magnetic resonance imaging. The presence and number of CMBs were graded using Brain Observer Microbleed Scale on susceptibility-weighted images. Other magnetic resonance imaging lesions that were graded included presence of lacunes, white matter lesion, and total brain volumes. A comprehensive neuropsychological battery was administered and cognitive function was summarized as composite and domain-specific Z-scores. Among 282 subjects, 91 had any CMBs (32.3%), of whom 36 (12.8%) had multiple CMBs. CMBs were-independent of cardiovascular risk factors and other markers of cerebral small vessel disease-significantly associated with poorer cognitive function as reflected by composite Z-score (mean difference per CMB increase: -0.06; 95% confidence interval: -0.11, -0.01] and with domain-specific Z-scores including executive function, attention, and visuoconstruction. Among Chinese subjects CMBs were, independent of other concomitant markers of cerebral small vessel disease, associated with poorer cognitive function.
authors: *Department of Pharmacology ‡Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health #Department of Ophthalmology, National University of Singapore †Memory Aging & Cognition Centre, National University Health System ¶Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Center ††Neuroscience Clinic, Raffles Hospital, Singapore, Singapore Departments of §Radiology & Medical Informatics **Ophthalmology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam ∥Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands.
authors: Saima
authors: S
authors: Hilal
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Saini
authors: Chuen Seng
authors: CS
authors: Tan
authors: Joseree A
authors: JA
authors: Catindig
authors: Way Inn
authors: WI
authors: Koay
authors: Wiro J
authors: WJ
authors: Niessen
authors: Henri A
authors: HA
authors: Vrooman
authors: Tien Yin
authors: TY
authors: Wong
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Chen
authors: Mohammad K
authors: MK
authors: Ikram
authors: Narayanaswamy
authors: N
authors: Venketasubramanian
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D059345:Cerebral Small Vessel Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology