Work

Relationships Between Cerebral Vasculopathies and Microinfarcts in Community-based Older Adults

Year: 2023

Type: conference-abstract

Abstract: Cerebral microinfarcts are associated with cognitive impairment and dementia. Less is known about the relationships of various vasculopathies (arteriolosclerosis and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) with microinfarcts. This case-control study examined the associations of the vasculopathies with microinfarcts in 842 older adults in the Adult Changes in Thought (ACT) autopsy data. Arteriolosclerosis was assessed by histological examination using the H&E stain; CAA was assessed using the Congo red histochemical stains; and microinfarcts was ascertained by blinded board-certified neuropathologists. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the presence of cerebral microinfarcts associated with the two cerebral vasculopathies. Cerebral microinfarcts were present in 417 (49.5%) participants. Mild, moderate, and severe arteriolosclerosis was present in 13.2%, 43.9%, 29.7% of participants with microinfarcts, and 28.9%, 40.0%, and 12.5% of participants without microinfarcts, respectively. ORs (95% CIs) for microinfarcts associated with moderate and severe arteriolosclerosis were 2.15 (1.45-3.17) and 4.59 (2.88-7.33), respectively. Mild, moderate, and severe CAA was present in 18.0%, 17.5%, and 3.6% of participants with microinfarcts, and 18.1%, 16.5%, and 2.4% of participants without microinfarcts, respectively. ORs (95% CIs) for microinfarcts associated with moderate and severe CAA were 0.97 (0.65-1.44) and 1.37 (0.59-3.21), respectively. Cerebral microinfarcts were common in older adults and were associated with a higher prevalence of arteriolosclerosis, but not with CAA. Our study underscores the need for additional studies to better understand this complex relationship to develop interventions for primary prevention of cognitive impairment.

Source: Innovation in Aging

DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igad104.1272

Authors: Mo-kyung Sin, Yan Cheng, Jeffrey Roseman, Edward Zamrini, Ali Ahmed

Institutions: Seattle University, George Washington University, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Washington DC VA Medical Center

Language: English

Topic: Intracerebral and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Research

Subfield: Neurology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,615