Neuroimaging predictors of dementia in stroke patients

The risk of dementia is increased in stroke patients. Dementia syndromes associated with cerebrovascular diseases were commonly recognized as an immediate consequence of stroke. However, more and more data suggest that degenerative pathology and white matter changes (WMC) may play a role in the development of dementia in stroke patients. The aim of this paper was to review the literature concerning the neuroimaging predictors of dementia in stroke patients. From the literature data, it appears that although vascular lesions alone may lead to dementia, in stroke patients, no clear association between stroke location and size has yet been identified, even if the role of the left hemisphere has been suggested. The influence of silent infarcts remains undetermined while more and more data suggest that global cerebral atrophy and WMC are predictive factors of post-stroke dementia (PSD). The influence of medial temporal lobe atrophy on the risk of PSD has until now never been evaluated.