Cognitive functions and white matter lesions on magnetic resonance images in a sample of normal Iranian population with cardiovascular risk factors

Abstract

Due to a suggestive three-way relationship between brain structural disorders, microvascular lesions, and cognitive impairments, we aimed to examine the association of the volume and number of white matter hyperintensity lesions and lacunar infarcts with cognitive impairment among patients with cardiovascular risk factors in a sample of the Iranian population. Materials and methods: This study was conducted on a total number of 156 normal subjects aged 30-74 years with cardiovascular risk factors. We used the Framingham general cardiovascular risk factors prediction model to calculate the likelihood of each risk factor. The total number of lacunar infarcts and the volume of white matter hyperintensity lesion were calculated in brain magnetic resonance imaging. Cognition status was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment questionnaire. Results: An adverse association was revealed between Montreal Cognitive Assessment score and different cardiovascular risk profiles including the Framingham body mass index score (p < 0.001) and the Framingham lipid score (p < 0.001). The total volume of white matter hyperintensity was negatively associated with total Montreal Cognitive Assessment cognition score (p < 0.001). Our study also showed an adverse association between total number of lacunar infarcts and total Montreal Cognitive Assessment cognition score (p ¼ 0.038) and with some cognition components including memory (p ¼ 0.013), attention (p ¼ 0.037), abstraction (p ¼ 0.046), and orientation (p ¼ 0.002). Conclusion: Periventricular lesions are associated with impaired memory, language, and visuoconstruction while subcortical lesions are associated with impairment in naming, attention, language, and abstraction functions in normal subjects with cardiovascular risk factors but without cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disorders.

Structural neuroimaging changes associated with subjective cognitive decline from a clinical sample

“…Vascular risk factors have been linked to the development of WML and imply an increased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia ( Lam et al, 2017 , Caillaud et al, 2020 , Kivipelto et al, 2001 , Vuorinen et al, 2011 ). Ashrafi et al ( Ashrafi et al, 2019 ) found a correlation between total WML volume and decreased cognitive function in a population without memory complaints but with cardiovascular risk factors. Meanwhile, van Rooden et al ( van Rooden et al, 2018 ) found that increased WML volumes were a predictor of memory complaints patients with SCD, suggesting that vascular damage could be an early marker of early-stage AD.…”

“…These findings may be attributed to several factors, such as the methodology used, because we measured the total WML load without identifying the location. Moreover, the imaging acquisition technique could be improved to detect WML using 3D FLAIR sequences ( Paniagua Bravo et al, 2014 ), and the criteria for defining SCD may also be associated with the heterogeneity of the results, although some studies have found an association between WML burden and worsening cognition in healthy populations ( Caillaud et al, 2020 , Ashrafi et al, 2019 ).…”

Cognitive Function and White Matter Lesions in Medication-Overuse Headache

“…WMLs were associated with impaired cognitive function, 13 and the severity of WMLs at baseline was associated with the cognitive decline in the non-demented elderly over time. 14 However, the relationship between cognitive function and WMLs in MOH patients was not yet clear.…”

The Longitudinal Association Between Cardiovascular Risk and Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Older Adults in China: A Nationally Representative Cohort Study

“…Worsened cardiovascular health triggers a cascade of pathologies associated with cognitive impairment and dementia in older adults (7). Most of the clinical evidence is based on non-Asian populations (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14).…”