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Age differences in periventricular and deep white matter lesions
Paul A Nyquist1, Murat Bilgel2, Rebecca Gottesman3
1Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Insights
Deep white matter hyperintensity (DWMH) and periventricular (PV) white matter lesions increase with age in individuals with a family history of coronary artery disease, independent of traditional risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging and Neurology
- Cardiovascular Disease Research
Background:
- Deep white matter hyperintensity (DWMH) and periventricular (PV) white matter lesions are linked to aging and stroke risk.
- Understanding age-related changes in white matter lesions is crucial, especially in populations with cardiovascular disease risk factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related differences in DWMH and PV white matter lesion volumes.
- To account for collinearity and traditional cardiovascular risk factors in the analysis of white matter lesions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 3T magnetic resonance imaging to classify white matter lesions as DWMH or PV.
- Analyzed 563 healthy family members of early-onset coronary artery disease patients.
- Employed random effects Tobit regression, adjusting for intracranial volume (ICV) and risk factors.
Main Results:
- Both DWMH and PV white matter lesions showed significant independent associations with age.
- For each decade of age, DWMH volume increased by 0.07 log units and PV volume by 0.18 log units.
- DWMH volumes were also associated with female sex, independent of age and ICV.
Conclusions:
- Periventricular and deep white matter lesions are independently and differentially associated with age in individuals with a family history of coronary artery disease.
- These associations persist even after controlling for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, highlighting age as a key determinant.
Abstract:
Deep white matter hyperintensity (DWMH) and periventricular (PV) white matter lesion volumes are associated with age and subsequent stroke. We studied age differences in these volumes accounting for collinearity and risk factors. Subjects were 563 healthy family members of early-onset coronary artery disease patients. Using 3T magnetic resonance imaging, lesions were classified as DWMH or PV. Age association with lesion classification was analyzed using random effects Tobit regression, adjusting for intracranial volume (ICV) and risk factors. Subjects were 60% women, 36% African-American, mean age 51 ± 11 years. In multivariable analysis adjusted for PV and ICV, DWMH was associated with age (p < 0.001) and female sex (p = 0.003). PV, adjusted for DWMH and ICV, was age associated (p < 0.001). For each age decade, DWMH showed 0.07 log units/decade greater volume (95% CI = 0.04-0.11); PV was 0.18 log units/decade greater (95% CI = 0.14-0.23); slope differences (p < 0.001). In people with a family history of coronary artery disease, PV and DWMH are independently and differentially associated with age controlling for traditional risk factors.
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