title: Cerebral Microinfarcts and Dementia: A Systematic Review and Metaanalysis.
abstract: To systematically review the relationship between the cerebral microinfarcts and dementia.
  
  
  
  We conducted a systematic review and meta-analyses using the MEDLINE, EMBASE，the Cochrane library, and BIOSIS preview for studies published in the period from January 1st, 1997 to April 1st, 2014. We also searched the reference lists of relevant studies and review articles. Studies had to be controlled, with participants divided into a dementia group and a control group. Experimental participants included must be demented individuals with dementia syndromes (dementia overall, AD, and vascular dementia (VaD)). Outcome measures should include the presence of microinfarcts lesions. The effect size was estimated as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran's Q-test and I2-statistic.
  
  
  
  We pooled data from 12 studies, including 2181 people. Cerebral microinfarcts were significantly associated with dementia in random effects model [the odds ratios (OR) 2.15, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.46-3.15, P=0.0008]. There was no evidence of an association between the microinfarcts and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in random effects model (OR 2.81, 95% CI 0.94-8.42, P=0.06).
  
  
  
  These results suggest that cerebral microinfarcts are significantly associated with dementia. Whether cerebral microinfarcts are associated with AD needs to be further investigated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, School of Medicine, Qingdao University, No.5 Donghai Middle Road, Qingdao, Shandong Province 266071, China.
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Hui-Fu
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Teng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Xi-Chen
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, School of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qindgao, China.
authors.forename: Jin-Tai
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000150:complications*; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans
keywords: Alzheimer's disease; cognitive impairment; dementia; microinfarcts; neuroimaging