Bladder function in elderly men with subclinical brain magnetic resonance imaging lesions

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Urology
• Geriatrics

Background:

• Urinary irritative symptoms are common in older men.
• Subclinical brain lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are increasingly recognized in aging populations.
• The relationship between brain health, aging, and lower urinary tract symptoms requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of subclinical brain lesions in older men with urinary irritative symptoms.
• To determine the association between detrusor hyperreflexia and brain lesions, particularly in the basal ganglia.
• To explore the interrelationship between aging, brain lesions, and detrusor hyperreflexia.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 43 men over 60 years old presenting with urinary irritative symptoms.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect subclinical brain lesions.
• Urodynamic studies to diagnose detrusor hyperreflexia.

Main Results:

• 40 out of 43 men (93%) exhibited subclinical brain lesions on MRI.
• Detrusor hyperreflexia was present in 23 of these 40 patients (57.5%).
• Patients with detrusor hyperreflexia were significantly older (mean age 75.8 years) than those without (mean age 68.2 years) and more likely to have basal ganglia lesions.

Conclusions:

• Subclinical brain lesions are highly prevalent in older men with urinary irritative symptoms.
• Detrusor hyperreflexia is significantly associated with advanced age and the presence of basal ganglia lesions.
• Aging, subclinical brain pathology, and detrusor hyperreflexia appear to be closely interrelated.