Cortical microinfarcts detected in vivo on 3 Tesla MRI: clinical and radiological correlates

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Assessing Cortical Cerebral Microinfarcts on High Resolution MR Images
08:39

Assessing Cortical Cerebral Microinfarcts on High Resolution MR Images

Published on: November 20, 2015

14.1K

Jan Willem van Dalen1, Eva E M Scuric2, Susanne J van Veluw2

  • 1From the Department of Neurology (J.W.v.D., E.E.M.S., W.A.v.G., E.R.) and Department of Radiology (M.W.A.C., A.J.N.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands (S.J.v.V., G.J.B.); and Department of Neurology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands (E.R.). j.vandalen@amc.nl.

Stroke
|December 4, 2014
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Cortical microinfarcts (CMIs) were detected in 6% of nondemented older adults using 3 Tesla MRI. These brain lesions were linked to older age and cardiovascular risk factors, suggesting potential for larger clinical studies.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Radiology
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Cortical microinfarcts (CMIs) are common postmortem findings linked to cognitive decline and dementia.
  • Previous research indicates CMIs detectable in vivo using 7 Tesla MRI can also be identified on 3 Tesla MRI.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the prevalence and clinical associations of cortical microinfarcts (CMIs) in nondemented older adults using 3 Tesla MRI.
  • To determine if CMIs identified on 3 Tesla MRI correlate with vascular risk factors and cognitive status.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based cohort of 194 nondemented individuals aged 72-80 years with systolic hypertension was studied.
  • A case-control design compared participants with and without CMIs based on age, sex, cardiovascular risk factors, and white matter hyperintensity volume.

Main Results:

  • Cortical microinfarcts (CMIs) were identified in 12 participants (6% prevalence).
  • CMIs were significantly associated with older age, higher diastolic blood pressure, and a history of recent stroke.
  • A trend towards higher white matter hyperintensity volume was observed in participants with CMIs.

Conclusions:

  • Cortical microinfarcts (CMIs) are associated with clinical parameters like age and cardiovascular risk factors in older adults.
  • The study demonstrates the feasibility of using 3 Tesla MRI for CMI detection in larger clinical studies.
  • This research opens avenues for prospective investigations into the clinical significance of CMIs in aging populations.
Keywords:
infarctionmagnetic resonance imagingstroke

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