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Updated: Mar 14, 2026
Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions
Published on: April 23, 2021
White Matter Lesions: Prevalence and Clinical Phenotype in Asymptomatic Individuals Aged ≥50 Years
Jean-Philippe David1, Emilie Ferrat, Juliette Parisot
1Université Paris Est (UPEC), IMRB, A-TVB DHU, CEpiA EA 7376 (Clinical Epidemiology and Ageing Unit), Créteil, France.
Background:
To assess the prevalence of early confluent/confluent white matter lesions (ec/cWMLs) in asymptomatic individuals aged ≥50 years and to identify associated clinical phenotypes.
Methods:
Cross-sectional analysis of 141 asymptomatic individuals aged ≥50 years assessed at an outpatient department in France. Brain magnetic resonance imaging was rated using the Fazekas scale. Age-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using logistic models to investigate factors associated with ec/cWMLs; independent risk factors were identified by multivariate analysis.
Results:
Median age was 63 years; 53.9% were women, 32.6% had hypertension, and 76.6% had ≥1 cardiovascular risk factors. The prevalence of ec/cWMLs was 26.2%. Apart from age, independent risk factors were family history of cardiovascular event (OR = 5.55; 1.13-27.32) and hypertension (2.47; 1.05-5.81). Patients with ec/cWMLs had lower cognitive dual-task walking speed (1.15; 0.98-1.40), MMSE (1.41; 1.06-1.89), and FAB scores (5.21; 1.49-19.84). The Scheltens score was independently associated with the WML severity score.
Conclusion:
ec/cWMLs are common in asymptomatic community-dwelling individuals aged ≥50 years. They are associated with cardiovascular risk factors, impairments in global and executive cognitive function, and Scheltens score elevation.
