Low cerebral blood flow velocity and risk of white matter hyperintensities

Cerebral blood flow velocity (CBF-V) measured by transcranial doppler was assessed in 628 elderly individuals who had cerebral magnetic resonance imaging performed as part of a population-based study on vascular aging. Cerebral white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) were associated with low CBF-V, such as the adjusted odds ratios of severe WMHs from highest (referent) to lowest quartile of mean CBF-V were 1.0, 1.7, 3.7, and 4.3 (p = 0.001). Further, CBF-V was found to be a stronger risk factor for WMHs than high blood pressure. These findings suggest that the assessment of CBF-V might be a powerful tool in future studies on WMHs.