A meta-analysis of association between cerebral microbleeds and cognitive impairment.
BACKGROUND
The clinical effect of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) on cognition has been receiving much research attention, but results are often inconsistent.


METHODS
We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and some Chinese electronic databases. A total of 15 studies were included.


RESULTS
Patients with CMBs had higher incidence of cognitive dysfunction (OR 3.14; 95% CI 1.66-5.92) and lower scores of cognitive function (SMD was -0.36 [-0.55, -0.18] in the MMSE group and -0.65 [-0.99, -0.32] in the MoCA [Montreal Cognitive Assessment] group). The results also indicated that a higher number of CMB lesions led to more severe cognitive dysfunction (SMD was -2.41 [-5.04, -0.21] in the mild group and -2.75 [-3.50, -2.01] in the severe group). We also found that cognitive performance was significantly impaired when CMBs were located in deep (-0.4 [-0.69, -0.11]), lobar regions (-0.50 [-0.92, -0.09]), basal ganglia (-0.72 [-1.03, -0.41]), and thalamus brain regions (-0.65 [-0.98, -0.32]).


CONCLUSIONS
This meta-analysis showed that CMBs were associated with cognitive dysfunction according to higher number and different locations of CMBs. Future work should focus on long-term prognosis of continuing cognitive decline and specific treatments to reduce the formation of CMBs.
Department of Neurology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai, China (mainland).
Rihan
R
Wu
Department of Neurology, Yi Wu Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, China (mainland).
Chao
C
Feng
Department of Neurology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai, China (mainland).
Yanxin
Y
Zhao
Department of Neurology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai, China (mainland).
Ai-Ping
AP
Jin
Department of Neurology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai, China (mainland).
Min
M
Fang
Department of Neurology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai, China (mainland).
Xueyuan
X
Liu
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D017594:Publication Bias