Associations of Regional White Matter Hyperintensities Severity with Different Visual Rating Scales and...

To explore the association between regional white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) severity and domain-specific cognitive impairment.

We analyzed 95 WMHs patients retrospectively and evaluated cognitive function. We quantified regional WMHs severity using the Scheltens Rating Scale (SRS) and Cholinergic Pathways Hyper intensities Scale (CHIPS). According to the regional WMHs scores, we divided the patients for intergroup comparisons of WMHs severity with domain-specific cognitive scores via the nonparametric Wilcoxon rank-sum test.

Neither the SRS nor the CHIPS total scores showed statistically correlation with cognitive scores (p > 0.05). However, in the bands lateral ventricles of periventricular hyperintensities (PVH-BLV) on the SRS, patients in the higher score groups had lower Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) total scores and total language scores (p < 0.05). Their Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) total scores and orientation scores were also lower (p < 0.05). Moreover, in the corona radiata-left anterior (CR-LA) on the CHIPS, patients in the higher total score groups had lower MMSE attention and calculation scores, and total language scores (p < 0.05). Furthermore, their MoCA total scores, orientation scores (p < 0.01), and attention scores (p < 0.05) were also lower.

We found that WMHs severity in the deep white matter, especially PVH-BLV and anterior CR, was negatively correlated with multiple cognitive domain functions. These findings suggest that in clinical practice, it's more beneficial to predict potential cognitive impairment by assessing regional WMHs severity.