Microstructural damage of normal-appearing white matter in subcortical ischemic vascular dementia is associated with Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study was performed to determine whether multimodal biomarkers are more strongly associated with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores compared with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores, and whether they are correlated with the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) in patients with subcortical ischemic vascular dementia (SIVD).MethodsPatients diagnosed with SIVD were enrolled. Peripheral blood hypersensitive C-reactive protein, white matter lesion volume (WMLV), fractional anisotropy (FA)/mean diffusivity (MD) of whole brain white matter (WBWM), and normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) were measured and correlated with MMSE, MoCA, and CDR scores.ResultsBivariate analyses of data from 48 included patients revealed that both MoCA and MMSE were significantly associated with age, education, and FA of NAWM. Only MD of NAWM was correlated with MoCA scores. In partial correlation analysis adjusted for demographic and neuroimaging variables, MD/FA of NAWM and the MoCA scores were significantly correlated. FA/MD of NAWM had a modest trend toward a correlation with the CDR, but it was not significant.ConclusionsIn the patients with SIVD, FA/MD of NAWM were more strongly related to MoCA scores compared with MMSE scores.

Montreal Cognitive Assessment of cognitive dysfunction after basal ganglia stroke

“…Our study showed no significant differences in total MoCA score or MoCA subscores between patients who differed in stroke location (right vs. left) or etiology (cerebral hemorrhage vs. cerebral infarction). Similarly, we found that the total MoCA score was not associated with patients' age, sex, or education level at the onset of basal ganglia stroke, in contrast to previous studies [21]. Our failure to detect an association between sex and cognitive subscores may be attributed to our small sample.…”

Contrast agent‐free state‐of‐the‐art magnetic resonance imaging on cerebral small vessel disease – Part 2: Diffusion tensor imaging and functional magnetic resonance imaging

“…Moreover, disruption of structural connectivity has been detected even in cognitively normal cSVD patients, affecting mainly the prefrontal areas, whereas in MCI cSVD patients, networks from frontal and parietal regions were disrupted 103 . Interestingly, MD and FA were more strongly associated with MoCA than MMSE scores, suggesting that the former might be more useful as a cognitive screening tool for cSVD patients 93,104,105 . However, the T2 relaxation time of the NAWM in cSVD patients was associated with cognition, which the DTI metric of the NAWM failed to achieve 106 …”

“…103 Interestingly, MD and FA were more strongly associated with MoCA than MMSE scores, suggesting that the former might be more useful as a cognitive screening tool for cSVD patients. 93,104,105 However, the T2 relaxation time of the NAWM in cSVD patients was associated with cognition, which the DTI metric of the NAWM failed to achieve. 106 Global FA, MD, PSMD, structural network measures, and ROI analysis were performed in a group of cSVD patients (from no cognitive impairment to MCI) and healthy controls to evaluate cognition.…”

Clinical characteristics of cerebral vascular dementia and early diagnostic value of cranial nuclear magnetic resonance

“…Since the pathogenesis and pathological basis of vascular dementia are relatively special, most patients often have different underlying cerebrovascular diseases, and ischemic stroke is the most common. 4,5 The risk of cerebrovascular lesions increases substantially in the elderly population due to the reduced metabolic capacity of peripheral circulation and vascular smooth muscle motor regulation. Once cerebrovascular lesions occur, blood circulation is often impaired, and the local brain tissue is continuously undersupplied with blood and oxygen.…”