title: Pattern of and risk factors for brain microbleeds in neurodegenerative dementia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A cross-sectional study was conducted to describe the prevalence, locations, and risk factors for brain microbleeds (BMBs) in neurodegenerative dementia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The database of the Alzheimer Center Reina Sofía Foundation was searched, BMBs were described, and the potential associations of BMBs were investigated using univariate statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 148 patients (age 81.6 [standard deviation 6.7], 79.1% female) were studied. Prevalence of BMBs was 44.6%. A group of patients with unusually high (ie, ≥4) number of BMBs were identified, which displayed higher number of vascular risk factors and vascular diseases. Brain microbleeds were also associated with ischemic lesions in the basal ganglia (r = .39), clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cerebrovascular disease (r = .33), cortical infarction (r = .20), and antiaggregant or anticoagulant treatment duration (r = .20).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Brain microbleeds are associated with vascular burden and AD diagnosis in old patients with neurodegenerative dementia. More research is warranted regarding the mechanisms and potential clinical implications of these results.
authors.affiliation: 1Alzheimer Disease Research Unit, Alzheimer Center Reina Sofía Foundation-CIEN Foundation, Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olazarán
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Inmaculada
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Boyano
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alfayate
authors.forename: Meritxell
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valentí
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rábano
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Linera
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; brain microbleeds; dementia; magnetic resonance imaging; risk factors