Trajectory of white matter hyperintensity burden preceding mild cognitive impairment.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine the time of acceleration in white matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden, a common indicator of cerebrovascular pathology, in relation to conversion to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the elderly.

Methods

A total of 181 cognitively intact elderly volunteers from the longitudinal, prospective, Oregon Brain Aging Study underwent yearly evaluations, including brain MRI, and cognitive testing. MRIs were analyzed for imaging markers of neurodegeneration: WMH and ventricular CSF (vCSF) volumes. The time before MCI, when the changes in WMH and vCSF burden accelerate, was assessed using a mixed-effects model with a change point for subjects who developed MCI during follow-up.

Results

During a follow-up duration of up to 19.6 years, 134 subjects converted

SUBMITTER: Silbert LC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3421153 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature