P1‐205: Cerebral cortical microinfarcts: A novel marker of cerebral small vessel disease on 3 tesla MRI
Year: 2015
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: With the advent of high-field 7 Tesla neuroimaging, cortical microinfarcts (CMI) are increasingly being recognized as a novel marker of cerebral small vessel disease. It has suggested that these CMI may even be visible on 3 Tesla MRI scans. Thus far, most studies on CMIs have been conducted in highly selected hospital-based samples. We examined the risk factors for CMIs and their association with cognitive impairment in an Asian cohort drawn from a population-based study. Malay and Chinese subjects from the on-going Epidemiology of Dementia in Singapore (EDIS) Study, who were aged ≥60 years, underwent comprehensive examinations including neuropsychological testing, 3 Tesla cranial MRI. CMIs were assessed on T1-weighted images, aided by FLAIR and T2-weighted images; and defined as hypointense lesions on T1, <5mm, restricted to the cortex, and distinct from perivascular spaces. Cognitive function was expressed as both composite and domain-specific Z-scores, and categorized into cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND)-mild, CIND-moderate and dementia using internationally accepted criteria. Regression models were constructed with adjustments for cardiovascular and MRI markers. Of the 608 Chinese and Malay subjects included in the EDIS study, presence of CMIs has been graded in 478 subjects (mean age: 71 years). A total of 29 (6%) subjects had any CMIs. In age, gender and education adjusted models, the presence of CMI was associated with CIND-moderate/dementia [odds ratio (OR): 4.10; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.14-14.7) and composite Z-score [mean difference: -0.31; 95% CI: -0.59; -0.03]. After including other MRI markers of cerebrovascular disease, these associations attenuated and became non-significant. Risk factors that were associated with the presence of CMI included: increasing age, male gender, diabetes and presence of other vascular markers on MRI (lacunar infarcts, white matter lesions, and intracranial stenosis). CMIs are common findings on 3 Tesla MRI scans of elderly Asian subjects. CMIs are associated with both other markers of cerebral small vessel disease and cognitive impairment. These findings suggest that CMIs on 3 Tesla may be considered a novel marker of cerebral small vessel disease.
Source: Alzheimer s & Dementia
Language: English
Subfield: Neurology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2477065576