Objective:We sought to determine whether MRI-based Cerebral Small Vessel Disease (CSVD) burden assessment, in addition to clinical and CT data, improved prediction of cognitive impairment after spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH).Methods:We analyzed data from ICH survivors enrolled in a single-center prospective study. We employed three validated CSVD burden scores: global, cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA)-specific, hypertensive arteriopathy (HTNA)-specific. We quantified cognitive performance by administering the modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS-m) test. We utilized linear mixed models to model cognitive decline rates, and survival models for new-onset dementia. We calculated CSVD scores’ cut-offs to maximize predictive performance for dementia diagnosis.Results:We enrolled 612 ICH survivors, and followed them for a median of 46.3 months (Inter-Quartile Range: 35.5-58.7). A total of 214/612 (35%) participants developed dementia. Higher global CSVD scores at baseline were associated with faster cognitive decline (Coeff -0.25, Standard Error [SE] 0.02) and dementia risk (Sub-Hazard Ratio 1.35, 95% CI 1.10-1.65). The global score outperformed the CAA and HTNA scores in predicting post-ICH dementia (all p<0.05). Compared to a model including readily available clinical and CT data, inclusion of the global CSVD score resulted in improved prediction of post-ICH dementia (Area Under the Curve [AUC] 0.89, SE 0.02 vs. AUC 0.81, SE 0.03, p = 0.008 for comparison). Global CSVD scores ≥ 2 had highest sensitivity (83%) and specificity (91%) for dementia diagnosis.Conclusions:A validated MRI-based CSVD score is associated with cognitive performance after ICH, and improved diagnostic accuracy for predicting new onset of dementia.
The influence of cerebral small vessel disease on static and dynamic functional network connectivity in subjects along Alzheimer's disease continuum
