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Subcortical hyperintensities impact cognitive function among a select subset of healthy elderly
Robert H Paul1, Omar Haque, John Gunstad
1Brown Medical School, Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, 1 Hoppin Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA. rpaul@lifespan.org
Summary
Subcortical hyperintensities (SH) impact cognition in some older adults, particularly those with severe SH. For most, cognitive aging is influenced by factors beyond SH.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Radiology
Background:
- Subcortical hyperintensities (SH) are MRI markers of cerebrovascular disease.
- Limited understanding of SH's role in age-related cognitive decline compared to other imaging markers.
- Cognitive decline is common in advanced age.
Purpose of the Study:
- Compare cognitive abilities between young and older healthy adults.
- Investigate the association between SH and cognitive function in older adults.
- Determine the extent SH explains age-related cognitive decline.
Main Methods:
- Compared cognitive performance in 53 older adults (50-79) and 53 younger adults (21-40).
- Assessed frontal and total grey matter volumes via MRI.
- Quantified subcortical hyperintensities (SH) volume.
Main Results:
- Older adults performed worse on most cognitive measures.
- Older adults showed reduced frontal and total grey matter volumes.
- SH volume correlated with cognitive function in a subset of older adults with severe SH.
Conclusions:
- The SH-cognition link in the elderly is driven by individuals with severe SH, potentially indicating early vascular cognitive impairment.
- Cognitive aging in most older adults is influenced by factors other than SH.