[Neuroimaging of cerebral small vessel disease in mild cognitive impairment in older adults.]

Abstract

Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) - is a clinical and radiological phenomenon characteristic of older adults. Currently, the extent of white matter lesions (WML) in patients with moderate cognitive disorders remains uncertain. Also, the relationship of cognitive impairment with the volume of WML has not been sufficiently studied. The aim of the study was to analyze the WML volumes in patients with subcortical vascular mild cognitive impairment (svMCI) and in the control group according to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The study included 50 people: 25 patients with svMCI (average age 75,88±4,04 years) and 25 conditionally healthy volunteers (average age 69,96±3,07 years). Significant differences in the volume of WML between the study groups were obtained. The fraction of hypointense WML was 0,74±0,41 in patients with svMCI and 0,15±0,07 in the control group. In the correlation analysis in the svMCI group, only the function of mental control showed a negative relationship with the fraction of WML. The data obtained suggest that the assessment of the volume of WML is important in patients with svMCI, but does not fully explain the decline in cognitive functions.