Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 19, 2026

Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions
Published on: April 23, 2021
Structural and functional changes related to cognition in patients with early subcortical ischemic vascular disease:
Xiaoshuang Liu1, Runtian Cheng1, Li Chen2
1The Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Abstract:
Subcortical ischemic vascular disease (SIVD) is a key contributor to vascular cognitive impairment, yet early-stage SIVD is underexplored despite its link to cognitive decline. This study investigates structural and functional changes in SIVD patients with and without cognitive impairment. Twenty-five individuals of subcortical ischemic vascular disease with normal cognition, 25 individuals with subcortical ischemic vascular cognitive impairment (SVCI), and 23 normal controls were enrolled. Voxel-based morphometry was used to assess differences in gray matter volume (GMV) across 3 groups by one-way analysis of variance. Pearson correlation coefficients were computed between voxel-based morphometry-identified seeds and all brain voxels derived from the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging analyses to evaluate the alterations of functional connectivity (FC). Spearman correlation analyses were performed to examine the relationships between altered GMV, abnormal FC, and cognitive assessments. Compared with normal controls, the SVCI group showed significant reductions in GMV in prefrontal regions (orbitofrontal cortex, gyrus rectus, inferior frontal gyrus), temporal lobe (olfactory cortex, superior temporal gyrus), insula, and subcortical areas (thalamus, caudate). The subcortical ischemic vascular disease with normal cognition group exhibited GMV loss in the right orbitofrontal cortex. FC analyses revealed hypoconnectivity in cortical-subcortical circuits as well as ipsilateral and contralateral cognitive-related regions. Several GMV and FC alterations in the SVCI group were correlated with neuropsychological assessments, including the Stroop Color-Word Test II and Trail Making Test B. Early-stage SIVD patients exhibit structural and functional abnormalities linked to cognitive deficits. The right orbitofrontal cortex may serve as a potential imaging biomarker for early detection of SIVD.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Dementia l: Introduction
Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology
Ischemic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology
Ischemic Stroke l: Introduction
Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Cognitive Development During Adulthood

