Associations between amyloid β and white matter hyperintensities: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Gerontology
• Radiology

Background:

• Cortical amyloid-beta (Aβ) and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) are common pathologies in aging.
• Their association is crucial for understanding cognitive impairment and dementia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review evidence on the relationship between Aβ deposition and WMH burden.
• To synthesize findings in healthy elderly, cognitively impaired, and demented individuals.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search following PRISMA guidelines.
• Searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, and PsycINFO databases (2000-2015).
• Included 34 studies from 492 initial articles.

Main Results:

• Most studies found no significant association between Aβ and WMH burden.
• Amyloid accumulation and WMH appear to be independent pathological processes.

Conclusions:

• Aβ and WMH may act as independent but additive contributors to neurodegeneration.
• Limited cohort diversity and lack of longitudinal data restrict generalizability.
• Further research is needed to clarify the interplay between vascular factors and neurodegeneration.