Skip to main content

Concepts on the prognostic significance of white matter changes

  • Conference paper
Ageing and Dementia

Part of the book series: Journal of Neural Transmission. Supplementa ((NEURAL SUPPL,volume 53))

Summary

Magnetic resonance imaging white matter changes are a common observation in the elderly. The prognostic significance of such abnormalities is incompletely understood. Correlative studies which are reviewed here, suggested a predictive potential of white matter abnormalities for ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, cognitive decline or even dementia. According to current review of literature the most compelling evidence for such a relationship exists for intellectual dysfunction. So far, there exist only preliminary data on the rate of WMH progression, but these demonstrate, at least some increase in number or extent within relatively short observational periods.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Austrom MG, Thompson RF, Hendrie HC, et al (1990) Foci of increased T2 signal intensity in MR images of healthy elderly subjects. A follow up study. J Am Geriatr Soc 38: 1133–1138

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Awad IA, Spetzler RF, Hodak JA, Awad CA, Carey R (1986) Incidental subcortical lesions identified on magnetic resonance imaging in the elderly. I. Correlation with age and cerebravascular risk factors. Stroke 17: 1084–1089

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bots ML, van Swieten JC, Breteler MMB, et al (1983) Cerebral white matter lesions and arteriosclerosis in the Rotterdam study. Lancet 341: 1232–1237

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bradley WG Jr, Waluch V, Brant Zawadzki M, Yadley RA, Wycoff RR (1984) Patchy periventricular white matter lesions in the elderly: a common observation during NMR imaging. Noninvasive Med Imaging 1: 35–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Breteler MMB, van Swieten JC, Bots ML, et al (1994) Cerebral white matter lesions, vascular risk factors, and cognitive function in a population based study: The Rotterdam Study. Neurology 44: 1246–1252

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fazekas F (1989) Magnetic resonance signal abnormalities in asymptomatic induviduals: their incidence and funcional correlates. Eur Neurol 29: 164–168

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fazekas F, Niederkorn K, Schmidt R, et al (1988) White matter signal abnormalities in normal individuals: correlation with caritid ultrasonography, cerebral blood flow measurements, and cerebrovascular risk factors. Stroke 19: 1285–1288

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fazekas F, Schmidt R, Offenbacher H, et al (1991) Prevalence of white matter and periventricular magnetic resonance hyperintensities in asymptomatic volunteers. J Neuroimag 1: 27–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Fazekas F, Kleinert R, Offenbacher H, et al (1993) Pathologic correlates of incidental MRI white matter signal hyperintensities. Neurology 43: 1683–1689

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fazekas F, Schmidt R, Fazekas G, Kapeller P (1994) The relevance of white matter changes to vascular dementia. In: Leys D, Scheltens PH (eds) Vascular dementia. Current Issues in Neurodegenerative Disease, vol 6. ICG Publications, Dordrecht, pp 133–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher M, Brant Zawadzki M, Ameriso S, et al (1993) Subcortical magnetic resonance imaging changes in a healthy elderly population: stroke risk factors, ultrasound, and hemostases factors. J Neuroimag 3: 28–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Fukui T, Sugita K, Sato Y, Takeuchi T, Tsukagoshi H (1994) Cognitive functions in subjects with incidental cerebral hyperintensities. Eur Neurol 34: 272–276

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gerard G, Weisberg LA (1986) MRI periventricular lesions in adults. Neurology 36: 998–1001

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harrell LE, Duvall E, Folks DG, et al (1991) The relationship of high-intensity signals on magnetic resonance images to cognitive and psychiatric state in Alzheimer’s disease. Arch Neurol 48: 1136–1140

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hendrie HC, Farlow MR, Austrom MG, Edwards MK, Williams MA (1989) Foci of increased T2 signal intensity on brain MR scans of healthy elderly subjects. AJNR 10: 703–707

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Inzitari D, Giordano GP, Ancona AL, Pracucci G, Mascalchi M, Amaducci L (1990) Leucoaraiosis, intracerebral hemorrhage, and arterial hypertension. Stroke 21: 1419–1423

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Junque C, Pujol J, Vendrell P, et al (1990) Leuco-araiosis on magnetic resonance imaging and speed of mental processing. Arch Neurol 47: 151–156

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kertesz A, Black SE, Tokar G, Benke T, Carr T, Nicholson L (1988) Periventricular and subcortical hyperintensities on magnetic resonance imaging. Rims, caps and unidentified bright objects. Arch Neurol 45: 404–408

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leifer DI, Buonnano FS, Richardson EP Jr (1990) Clinicopathological correlations of cranial magnetic resonance imaging of periventricular white matter. Neurology 40: 911–918

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liao D, Cooper L, Cai J, et al (1996) Presence and severity of cerebral white matter lesions and hypertension, its treatment, and its control. The ARIC study. Stroke 27: 2262–2270

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Longstreth WT, Manolio TA, Arnold A, et al (1996) Clinical correlates of white matter findings on cranial magnetic resonance imaging of 3301 elderly people. The Cardiovascular Health Study. Stroke 27: 1274–1282

    Google Scholar 

  • Manolio TA, Kronmal RA, Burke GL, et al (1994) Magnetic resonance abnormalities and cardiovascular disease in older adults. The cardiovascular health study. Stroke 25: 318–327

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martin CGM, v Swieten JC, Sever AR, Scheltens P, Pieterman H, Breteler MMB (1997) Change in white matter lesions in 60 healthy elderly over a 5-years period. J Neurol 244 [Suppl 3]: S23

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsubayashi K, Shimada K, Kawamoto A, Ozawa T (1992) Incidental brain lesions on magnetic resonance imaging and neurobehavioral functions in the apparently healthy elderly. Stroke 23: 175–180

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer JSL, Kawamura J, Terayama Y (1992) White matter lesions in the elderly. J Neurol Sci 110: 1–7

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mirsen TR, Lee DH, Wong CJ, et al (1991) Clinical correlates of white matter changes on magnetic resonance imaging scans of the brain. Arch Neurol 48: 1015–1021

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Noguchi S, Murakami K, Yamada N (1993) Apolipoprotein E genotype and Alzheimers disease. Lancet 342: 737

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Offenbacher H, Fazekas F, Schmidt R, Koch M, Kapeller P, Flooh E, Lechner H (1994) Increased prevalence of microangiopathy related parenchymal damage in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage. Neurology 44 [Suppl 2]: A126-A127

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao SM, Mittenberg W, Bernardin L, Haughton V, Leo GJ (1989) Neuropsychological test findings in subjects with leucoaraiosis. Arch Neurol 46: 40–44

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scheltens PHI, Barkhof F, Leys D, Wolters EC, Ravid R, Kamphorst W (1995) Histopathological correlates of white matter changes on magnetic resonance imaging in Alzheimer’s disease and normal aging. Neurology 45: 883–888

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt R, Fazekas F, Offenbacher H, et al (1991) Magnetic resonance imaging white matter lesions and cognitive impairment in hypertensive individuals. Arch Neurol 48: 417–420

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt R, Fazekas F, Kleinert G, et al (1992) Magnetic resonance imaging signal hyperintensities in the deep and subcortical white matter. A comparative study between stroke patients and normal volunteers. Arch Neurol 49: 825–827

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt R, Fazekas F, Offenbacher H, et al (1993) Neuropsychologic correlates of MRI white matter hyperintensities: a study of 150 normal volunteers. Neurology 43: 2490–2494

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt R, Fazekas F, Koch M, et al (1995) Magnetic resonance imaging cerebral abnormalities and neuropsychologic test performance in elderly hyperintensive subjects. A case control study. Arch Neurol 52: 905–910

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shimano H, Ishibashi S, Murase T, et al (1989) Plasma apolipoproteins in patients with multi-infarct dementia. Arterosclerosis 79: 257–260

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sullivan P, Pary R, Telang F, Rifai AH, Zubenko GS (1990) Risk factors of white matter changes detected by magnetic resonance imaging in the elderly. Stroke 21: 1424–1428

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sze GL, De Armond SJ, Brant-Zawadzki M, Davis RL, Norman D, Newton TH (1986) Foci of MRI signal (pseudo lesions) anterior to the frontal horns: histopathologic correlations of a normal finding. AJNR 17: 381–387

    Google Scholar 

  • Tupler LA, Coffe E, Logue PE, Djang WT, Fagan SM (1992) Neuropsychological importance of subcortical white matter hyperintensity. Arch Neurol 49: 1248–1250

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Swieten JC, Geykes GG, Derix MMA, et al (1991) Hypertension in the elderly is associated with white matter lesions and cognitive decline. Ann Neurol 30: 825–830

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ylikosi A, Erkinjuntti T, Raininko R, Sarna S, Sulkava R, Tilvis R (1995) White matter hyperintensities on MRI in the neurologically nondiseased elderly. Analysis of cohorts of consecutive subjects aged 55 to 85 years living at home. Stroke 26: 1171–1177

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1998 Springer-Verlag Wien

About this paper

Cite this paper

Kapeller, P., Schmidt, R. (1998). Concepts on the prognostic significance of white matter changes. In: Jellinger, K., Fazekas, F., Windisch, M. (eds) Ageing and Dementia. Journal of Neural Transmission. Supplementa, vol 53. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-6467-9_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-6467-9_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-211-83114-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-7091-6467-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics