Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2026
Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions
Published on: April 23, 2021
Relationship between cerebral microbleeds and cognitive function in lacunar infarct
Min Zhang1, Maogang Chen, Qizhang Wang
1Department of Neurology, The Second People's Hospital of Changzhou Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Objective:
Little is known about the impact of cerebral microbleeds on cognitive function. This study investigated the distribution of cerebral microbleeds and their impact on cognitive function, in patients with lacunar infarct.
Methods:
Patients with lacunar infarct were enrolled prospectively. Cerebral microbleeds were classified as absent, mild, moderate or severe, based on magnetic resonance imaging findings. Cognitive function was measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) questionnaire, with a total score of <26 indicating cognitive impairment.
Results:
Of the 85 patients included in the study, 35 (41.2%) had cerebral microbleeds. They were more frequently observed in mixed and deep brain regions, but rarely in the cerebral lobes. Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that presence of cerebral microbleeds (odds ratio [OR] 5.320), duration of education (OR 0.938) and age (OR 1.464) were independent predictors of cognitive impairment. There was a significant correlation between cerebral microbleed severity and MoCA score.
Conclusion:
The number and location of cerebral microbleeds were both closely associated with cognitive impairment, in patients with lacunar infarct.
Insights
Cerebral microbleeds, often found in deep brain regions, significantly predict cognitive impairment in patients with lacunar infarct. Their severity correlates with lower cognitive scores, highlighting their impact on brain function.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroimaging
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are small, often asymptomatic, hemorrhages in the brain.
- Their impact on cognitive function, particularly in patients with lacunar infarct, remains poorly understood.
- Lacunar infarcts are small strokes that affect deep brain structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distribution of cerebral microbleeds in patients with lacunar infarct.
- To determine the association between cerebral microbleeds and cognitive function in this patient group.
- To identify predictors of cognitive impairment in patients with lacunar infarct.
Main Methods:
- Prospective enrollment of patients diagnosed with lacunar infarct.
- Classification of cerebral microbleeds (absent, mild, moderate, severe) using magnetic resonance imaging.
- Assessment of cognitive function via the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) questionnaire (score <26 indicates impairment).
Main Results:
- Cerebral microbleeds were present in 41.2% of the 85 study participants.
- CMBs were more common in mixed and deep brain regions, but rare in cerebral lobes.
- Presence of CMBs (OR 5.320), education duration (OR 0.938), and age (OR 1.464) independently predicted cognitive impairment.
Conclusions:
- Both the number and location of cerebral microbleeds are strongly linked to cognitive impairment in patients with lacunar infarct.
- Cerebral microbleed severity showed a significant correlation with MoCA scores.
- These findings underscore the clinical significance of CMBs in the context of lacunar stroke.
