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

Adv Clin Exp Med. 2019 Dec;28(12):1705-1710. doi: 10.17219/acem/110324.

Abstract

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

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

Material and methods: 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).

Results: 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.

Conclusions: 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.

Keywords: atherosclerosis risk factors; cerebrovascular disease; cognitive impairment; white matter lesions.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cerebrovascular Disorders / pathology*
  • Cognition
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Risk Factors
  • White Matter / pathology*