Deep versus Periventricular White Matter Lesions and Cognitive Function in a Community Sample of Middle-Aged Participants

The association of cerebral white matter lesions (WMLs) with cognitive status is not well understood in middle-aged individuals. Our aim was to determine the specific contribution of periventricular hyperintensities (PVHs) and deep white matter hyperintensities (DWMHs) to cognitive function in a com...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society 2012-09, Vol.18 (5), p.874-885
Main Authors: Soriano-Raya, Juan José, Miralbell, Júlia, López-Cancio, Elena, Bargalló, Núria, Arenillas, Juan Francisco, Barrios, Maite, Cáceres, Cynthia, Toran, Pere, Alzamora, Maite, Dávalos, Antoni, Mataró, Maria
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Brain research
Cerebral Ventricles - pathology
Cognition Disorders - diagnosis
Cognition Disorders - etiology
Cognitive ability
Dementia
Depression
Diabetes
Executive Function
Female
Humans
Hypertension
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Ischemia
Leukoencephalopathies - complications
Leukoencephalopathies - pathology
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Memory, Short-Term
Middle age
Middle Aged
Neuropsychological Tests
Psychomotor Performance
Residence Characteristics
Risk Factors
Statistics, Nonparametric
Stroke, Lacunar - etiology
Stroke, Lacunar - pathology
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Summary:The association of cerebral white matter lesions (WMLs) with cognitive status is not well understood in middle-aged individuals. Our aim was to determine the specific contribution of periventricular hyperintensities (PVHs) and deep white matter hyperintensities (DWMHs) to cognitive function in a community sample of asymptomatic participants aged 50 to 65 years. One hundred stroke- and dementia-free adults completed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery and brain MRI protocol. Participants were classified according to PVH and DWMH scores (Fazekas scale). We dichotomized our sample into low grade WMLs (participants without or with mild lesions) and high grade WMLs (participants with moderate or severe lesions). Analyses were performed separately in PVH and DWMH groups. High grade DWMHs were associated with significantly lower scores in executive functioning (−0.45 standard deviations [SD]), attention (−0.42 SD), verbal fluency (−0.68 SD), visual memory (−0.52 SD), visuospatial skills (−0.79 SD), and psychomotor speed (−0.46 SD). Further analyses revealed that high grade DWMHs were also associated with a three- to fourfold increased risk of impaired scores (i.e.,
ISSN:1355-6177
1469-7661
DOI:10.1017/S1355617712000677