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Updated: Feb 20, 2026
Assessing Cortical Cerebral Microinfarcts on High Resolution MR Images
Published on: November 20, 2015
Cortical Cerebral Microinfarcts on 3 Tesla MRI in Patients with Vascular Cognitive Impairment
Doeschka A Ferro1, Susanne J van Veluw2, Huiberdina L Koek3
1Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Background:
Cerebral microinfarcts (CMIs) are small ischemic lesions that are a common neuropathological finding in patients with stroke or dementia. CMIs in the cortex can now be detected in vivo on 3 Tesla MRI.
Objective:
To determine the occurrence of CMIs and associated clinical features in patients with possible vascular cognitive impairment (VCI).
Method:
182 memory-clinic patients (mean age 71.4±10.6, 55% male) with vascular injury on brain MRI (i.e., possible VCI) underwent a standardized work-up including 3 Tesla MRI and cognitive assessment. A control group consisted of 70 cognitively normal subjects (mean age 70.6±4.7, 60% male). Cortical CMIs and other neuroimaging markers of vascular brain injury were rated according to established criteria.
Result:
Occurrence of CMIs was higher (20%) in patients compared to controls (10%). Among patients, the presence of CMIs was associated with male sex, history of stroke, infarcts, and white matter hyperintensities. CMI presence was also associated with a diagnosis of vascular dementia and reduced performance in multiple cognitive domains.
Conclusion:
CMIs on 3 Tesla MRI are common in patients with possible VCI and co-occur with imaging markers of small and large vessel disease, likely reflecting a heterogeneous etiology. CMIs are associated with worse cognitive performance, independent of other markers of vascular brain injury.
Insights
Cerebral microinfarcts (CMIs) are common in patients with possible vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). These small brain lesions detected by 3 Tesla MRI are linked to worse cognitive function.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroimaging
- Vascular Dementia Research
Background:
- Cerebral microinfarcts (CMIs) are small ischemic lesions frequently found in stroke and dementia patients.
- Advances in 3 Tesla MRI now enable in vivo detection of cortical CMIs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of CMIs in patients with possible vascular cognitive impairment (VCI).
- To identify clinical features associated with CMIs in this patient group.
Main Methods:
- 182 memory clinic patients with MRI-confirmed vascular injury (possible VCI) and 70 controls underwent 3 Tesla MRI and cognitive testing.
- Cortical CMIs and other vascular brain injury markers were assessed using established criteria.
Main Results:
- CMIs were more prevalent in patients (20%) than controls (10%).
- In patients, CMIs correlated with male sex, stroke history, infarcts, white matter hyperintensities, vascular dementia diagnosis, and poorer cognitive performance across domains.
Conclusions:
- CMIs are common in possible VCI patients, detected via 3 Tesla MRI.
- CMIs coexist with other vascular brain injury markers, suggesting diverse causes.
- CMI presence is independently associated with diminished cognitive function in VCI.
Related Concept Videos
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