Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 19, 2026
07:30
Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions
Published on: April 23, 2021
3.5K
Basal ganglia cerebral microbleeds and global cognitive function: the Kashima Scan Study
Yusuke Yakushiji1, Tomoyuki Noguchi2, Andreas Charidimou3
1Division of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Saga University Faculty of Medicine, Saga, Japan; Stroke Research Group, Department of Brain Repair & Rehabilitation, UCL Institute of Neurology and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, United Kingdom.
Summary
Deep or infratentorial cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) in the basal ganglia (BG) are strongly linked to impaired cognitive function. This association is independent of CMBs in other brain regions, highlighting BG CMBs as a key indicator.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroimaging
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Previous research linked deep or infratentorial (D/I) cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) to cognitive function in Japanese healthy individuals.
- Further investigation was conducted to explore the impact of D/I CMB distribution on global cognitive function using gradient-echo magnetic resonance imaging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the specific locations of D/I CMBs and global cognitive function.
- To determine if CMBs in the basal ganglia (BG), thalamus, or infratentorial area differentially impact cognitive performance.
Main Methods:
- Analysis included 1392 subjects: those without CMBs (n=1335), with D/I CMBs in the basal ganglia (BG group, n=33), thalamus (n=14), or infratentorial area (n=10).
- Subjects with strictly lobar CMBs were excluded, but could be included if they also had D/I CMBs.
- Global cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), with impairment defined as scores <27 or >1.5 standard deviations below the mean.
Main Results:
- Multivariable logistic regression identified hypertension and severe white matter hyperintensities associated with BG and thalamus CMB groups.
- Only the BG group showed a consistent association with impaired MMSE scores (score <27: OR 5.96; score >1.5 SDs below mean: OR 3.34).
- The BG group exhibited lower adjusted mean scores for total MMSE and the "attention and calculation" subtest compared to subjects without CMBs.
Conclusions:
- Basal ganglia (BG) CMBs demonstrated a significant association with global cognitive function in this study.
- This association was independent of CMBs located in other brain regions, emphasizing the specific role of BG CMBs.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Dementia l: Introduction
3
Dementia is an acquired, progressive syndrome characterized by a decline in multiple cognitive domains severe enough to impair daily functioning and reduce independence. Although memory loss is a central feature, the diagnosis requires additional deficits involving language, executive function, visuospatial skills, judgment, calculation, or abstract reasoning. These cognitive impairments reflect underlying neurodegenerative or vascular processes that gradually disrupt neuronal networks...
3
01:22Cerebral Edema ll: Pathophysiology
2
Vasogenic edema is a major form of cerebral edema characterized by abnormal accumulation of fluid in the brain’s extracellular space due to disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is a specialized structure composed of endothelial cells connected by tight junctions, supported by astrocytic endfeet and a basement membrane. Under normal conditions, it tightly regulates the movement of ions, proteins, and solutes between the bloodstream and brain parenchyma. When this...
2
01:17Hemorrhagic Stroke l: Introduction
4
A hemorrhagic stroke is an acute neurological event that occurs when a weakened cerebral blood vessel ruptures, allowing blood to accumulate within or around the brain. The sudden release of blood forms a focal hematoma that increases intracranial pressure, displaces neural tissue, and can obstruct cerebrospinal fluid pathways. These effects may be compounded by intraventricular extension of the hemorrhage, cerebral edema, or compression of adjacent structures, all of which contribute to...
4
01:29Hemorrhagic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology
6
A hemorrhagic stroke develops when a cerebral blood vessel ruptures, allowing blood to escape into the surrounding brain tissue, as in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), or into the subarachnoid space, as in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Because the skull is a rigid compartment, the sudden presence of extravascular blood rapidly increases intracranial pressure and compresses adjacent neural structures, leading to immediate tissue injury and impaired cerebral perfusion.Mass Effect and Primary...
6
01:14Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory
1.6K
The cerebellum, while traditionally associated with motor control, also plays a crucial role in memory, particularly in procedural memory, which involves learning motor tasks that become automatic through repetition. For example, studies have shown that when the cerebellum is damaged, individuals or animals lose the ability to learn conditioned motor responses, such as the conditioned eye-blink response in classical conditioning experiments with rabbits. This study demonstrates the...
1.6K