Cognitive features of white matter lesions accompanied by different risk factors of cerebrovascular diseases

The relationship between different risk factors and the cognitive impairment of white matter lesions (WML) remains poorly understood.

To investigate the features of cognitive impairment of patients diagnosed with WML accompanied by different risk factors of cerebrovascular diseases.

A total of 157 cases of WML patients were divided into no risk factor group (n = 26), hypertension group (n = 35), diabetes mellitus group (n = 27), dyslipidemia group (n = 30), and mixed factors group (n = 39).

The severity of WML (Fazekas score) in the hypertension and mixed factors groups was higher than in the non-risk factors group. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores in the hypertension and mixed factors groups were lower than in the non-risk factors group. The scores of MoCA, immediate memory and delayed recall in the hypertension and mixed factors groups with Fazekas score ≥3 were lower than in the peer group with Fazekas score <3. The scores of MoCA and immediate memory in the hypertension and mixed factors groups with Fazekas score ≥3 were lower than in the non-risk factors group with Fazekas score ≥3.

Hypertension aggravates the severity of WML and cognitive impairment. The severity of WML is positively correlated with the severity of cognitive impairment accompanied by these risk factors.