title: White Matter Lesions: Prevalence and Clinical Phenotype in Asymptomatic Individuals Aged ≥50 Years.
abstract: To assess the prevalence of early confluent/confluent white matter lesions (ec/cWMLs) in asymptomatic individuals aged ≥50 years and to identify associated clinical phenotypes.
  
  
  
  Cross-sectional analysis of 141 asymptomatic individuals aged ≥50 years assessed at an outpatient department in France. Brain magnetic resonance imaging was rated using the Fazekas scale. Age-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using logistic models to investigate factors associated with ec/cWMLs; independent risk factors were identified by multivariate analysis.
  
  
  
  Median age was 63 years; 53.9% were women, 32.6% had hypertension, and 76.6% had ≥1 cardiovascular risk factors. The prevalence of ec/cWMLs was 26.2%. Apart from age, independent risk factors were family history of cardiovascular event (OR = 5.55; 1.13-27.32) and hypertension (2.47; 1.05-5.81). Patients with ec/cWMLs had lower cognitive dual-task walking speed (1.15; 0.98-1.40), MMSE (1.41; 1.06-1.89), and FAB scores (5.21; 1.49-19.84). The Scheltens score was independently associated with the WML severity score.
  
  
  
  ec/cWMLs are common in asymptomatic community-dwelling individuals aged ≥50 years. They are associated with cardiovascular risk factors, impairments in global and executive cognitive function, and Scheltens score elevation.
authors.affiliation: Université Paris Est (UPEC), IMRB, A-TVB DHU, CEpiA EA 7376 (Clinical Epidemiology and Ageing Unit), Créteil, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: Emilie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferrat
authors.forename: Juliette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parisot
authors.forename: Henri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Naga
authors.forename: Samia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lakroun
authors.forename: Feriel
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Menasria
authors.forename: Sofiane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saddedine
authors.forename: Pierre-André
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Natella
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paillaud
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fromentin
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bastuji-Garin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D003071:Cognition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D056784:Leukoencephalopathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010641:Phenotype; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D000072797:Walking Speed; D066127:White Matter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*