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White Matter Hyperintensities Relate to Clinical Progression in Subjective Cognitive Decline

Marije R Benedictus1, Argonde C van Harten2, Annebet E Leeuwis2

  • 1From the Alzheimer Center and Department of Neurology (M.R.B., A.C.v.H., A.E.L., P.S., N.D.P., W.M.v.d.F.), Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine (F.B.), Department of Medical Psychology (T.K.), and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (W.M.v.d.F.), Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. M.Benedictus@vumc.nl.

Stroke
|July 16, 2015
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Patients with subjective cognitive decline and white matter hyperintensities face a higher risk of clinical progression and cognitive decline. This finding highlights the importance of monitoring small vessel disease in cognitive health.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Neuroimaging
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is an early stage of cognitive impairment.
  • Small vessel disease (SVD) is a common finding in aging brains.
  • The association between SVD subtypes and clinical progression in SCD requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between SVD markers and clinical progression in patients with SCD.
  • To determine if specific SVD markers predict cognitive decline in individuals with SCD.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 334 patients with SCD was followed for 3±2 years.
  • Clinical progression to mild cognitive impairment or dementia was assessed.
  • Neuroimaging markers of SVD, including white matter hyperintensities, microbleeds, and lacunes, were evaluated.

Main Results:

  • 16% of patients with SCD progressed clinically.
  • White matter hyperintensities were significantly associated with clinical progression.
  • White matter hyperintensities correlated with annual decline in memory, attention, executive functioning, and global cognition.
  • Microbleeds and lacunes showed no association with clinical progression or cognitive decline.

Conclusions:

  • White matter hyperintensities are a significant risk factor for clinical progression and cognitive decline in patients with SCD.
  • These findings suggest that white matter hyperintensities may serve as a biomarker for individuals at higher risk of dementia.
Keywords:
cognitive declinesmall vessel diseasesubjective complaintsvascular cognitive impairmentwhite matter lesions

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