Multiple microbleeds are related to cerebral network disruptions in patients with early Alzheimer's disease

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Updated: May 8, 2026

Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions
07:30

Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions

Published on: April 23, 2021

Sophie M Heringa1, Yael D Reijmer, Alexander Leemans

  • 1Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Journal of Alzheimer'S Disease : JAD
|August 17, 2013
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Multiple cerebral microbleeds disrupt brain networks in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, indicating significant white matter changes. However, these microbleeds do not appear to directly impact cognitive function in early AD.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Neuroimaging
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Cerebral microbleeds are common in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and linked to small vessel disease.
  • Their specific role in AD's neurological and cognitive impact remains unclear.
  • This study investigates microbleeds' contribution to cerebral network disturbances in AD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the association between cerebral microbleeds and brain network integrity.
  • To assess how microbleeds influence network efficiency in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and early AD.

Main Methods:

  • Sixty-seven patients with aMCI or early AD underwent 3T MRI and cognitive tests.
  • Diffusion tensor imaging and graph theory analyzed brain network structure and efficiency.
  • Microbleed presence (≥1 or ≥3) was compared against network measures and cognitive scores, adjusting for confounding factors.

Main Results:

  • No significant network differences were found between patients with and without microbleeds (≥1).
  • Patients with ≥3 microbleeds exhibited disrupted white matter, longer path lengths, and reduced global network efficiency.
  • Cognitive performance did not significantly differ across groups based on microbleed presence.

Conclusions:

  • Multiple cerebral microbleeds correlate with structural brain network disruption in early AD.
  • The direct impact of microbleeds on cognitive function in this population appears limited.
  • Further research may clarify the long-term consequences of microbleeds on AD progression.
Keywords:
Alzheimer's diseasecerebral amyloid angiopathycerebral small vessel diseasecognitiondiffusion tensor imagingmagnetic resonance imagingmicrobleedsmild cognitive impairmentnetwork

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