title: The Relationship of Cerebral Vessel Pathology to Brain Microinfarcts.
abstract: The relationship of cerebral vessel pathology to brain microinfarcts is not fully understood. We examined associations of cerebral vessel pathology with microinfarcts among community-dwelling persons who came to autopsy. Brain specimens were derived from 1,066 deceased subjects (mean age-at-death = 88 years, 65% women) participating in a cohort study of aging. Microinfarcts were classified by number, age and location. Severity of vessel pathologies was graded semi-quantitatively. Almost a third of subjects (n = 300; 28%) had at least one chronic microinfarct, including 128 cortical only, 120 subcortical only, and 47 with both. Moderate-to-severe atherosclerosis was present in 430 (41%) subjects, arteriolosclerosis in 382 (36%), and amyloid angiopathy in 374 (35%). The odds of one or multiple microinfarct(s) was increased for more severe atherosclerosis (OR =1.22; 95%CI: 1.03-1.45), arteriolosclerosis (OR =1.18; 95%CI: 1.02-1.37) and amyloid angiopathy (OR =1.13; 95%CI: 1.00-1.28). Separately, the odds of subcortical microinfarct(s) was increased for atherosclerosis (OR =1.49; 95%CI: 1.20-1.84) and arteriolosclerosis (OR =1.39; 95%CI: 1.16-1.67) but not amyloid angiopathy; whereas the odds of cortical microinfarct(s) was increased for amyloid angiopathy (OR =1.26; 95%CI: 1.09-1.46) only. While cerebral vessel pathologies are associated with microinfarct burden, atherosclerosis and arteriolosclerosis are associated with subcortical microinfarcts, and amyloid angiopathy with cortical microinfarcts.
authors: Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL.|Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL.
authors: Zoe
authors: Z
authors: Arvanitakis
authors: Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL.|Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL.
authors: Ana W
authors: AW
authors: Capuano
authors: Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL.|Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL.
authors: Sue E
authors: SE
authors: Leurgans
authors: Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL.|Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL.
authors: Aron S
authors: AS
authors: Buchman
authors: Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL.|Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL.
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Bennett
authors: Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL.|Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL.|Department of Pathology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL.
authors: Julie A
authors: JA
authors: Schneider
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001160:Arterioles / Q000473:pathology; D050379:Arteriolosclerosis / Q000473:pathology; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D016657:Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / Q000473:pathology; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D002537:Intracranial Arteriosclerosis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009928:Organ Specificity
keywords: atherosclerosis; brain; cerebrovascular disease; epidemiology; infarction; pathology