scholarly journals Cerebral microbleeds topography and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in cognitive impairment

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 1006-1013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Shams ◽  
Tobias Granberg ◽  
Juha Martola ◽  
Andreas Charidimou ◽  
Xiaozhen Li ◽  
...  

Cerebral microbleeds, a marker of small vessel disease, are thought to be of importance in cognitive impairment. We aimed to study topographical distribution of cerebral microbleeds, and their involvement in disease pathophysiology, reflected by cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers; 1039 patients undergoing memory investigation underwent lumbar puncture and a brain magnetic resonance imaging scan. Cerebrospinal fluid samples were analyzed for amyloid β(Aβ)42, total tau(T-tau), tau phosphorylated at threonine 18(P-tau) and cerebrospinal fluid/serum albumin ratios. Magnetic resonance imaging sequences were evaluated for small vessel disease markers, including cerebral microbleeds, white matter hyperintensities and lacunes. Low Aβ42 levels were associated with lobar cerebral microbleeds in the whole cohort and Alzheimer’s disease ( P < 0.001). High cerebrospinal fluid/serum albumin ratios were seen with increased number of cerebral microbleeds in the brainstem ( P < 0.001). There were tendencies for increased Aβ42 levels and decreased Tau levels with deep and infratentorial cerebral microbleeds ( P < 0.05). Lobar cerebral microbleeds were associated with white matter hyperintensities and lacunes ( P < 0.001). Probable cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related cerebral microbleeds were associated with low Aβ42 levels and lacunes, whereas probable cerebral amyloid angiopathy-unrelated cerebral microbleeds were associated with white matter hyperintensities ( P < 0.001). Our findings show that cerebral microbleed distribution is associated with different patterns of cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers, supporting different pathogenesis of deep/infratentorial and lobar cerebral microbleeds.

Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (5) ◽  
pp. 1404-1410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle P. Lin ◽  
Thomas G. Brott ◽  
David S. Liebeskind ◽  
James F. Meschia ◽  
Kevin Sam ◽  
...  

Background and Purpose— Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is associated with increased stroke risk and poor stroke outcomes. We aimed to evaluate whether chronic SVD burden is associated with poor recruitment of collaterals in large-vessel occlusive stroke. Methods— Consecutive patients with middle cerebral artery or internal carotid artery occlusion presenting within 6 hours after stroke symptom onset who underwent thrombectomy from 2012 to 2017 were included. The prespecified primary outcome was poor collateral flow, which was assessed on baseline computed tomographic angiography (poor, ≤50% filling; good, >50% filling). Markers of chronic SVD on brain magnetic resonance imaging were rated for the extent of white matter hyperintensities, enlarged perivascular spaces, chronic lacunar infarctions and cerebral microbleeds using the Standards for Reporting Vascular Changes on Neuroimaging criteria. Severity of SVD was quantified by adding the presence of each SVD feature, with a total possible score of 0 to 4; each SVD type was also evaluated separately. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the relationships between SVD and poor collaterals, with adjustment for potential confounders. Results— Of the 100 eligible patients, the mean age was 65±16 years, median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 15, and 68% had any SVD. Poor collaterals were observed in 46%, and those with SVD were more likely to have poor collaterals than patients without SVD (aOR, 1.9 [95% CI, 1.1–3.2]). Of the SVD types, poor collaterals were significantly associated with white matter hyperintensities (aOR, 2.9 per Fazekas increment [95% CI, 1.6–5.3]) but not with enlarged perivascular spaces (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.3 [95% CI, 0.4–4.0]), lacunae (aOR, 2.1 [95% CI, 0.6–7.1]), or cerebral microbleeds (aOR, 2.1 [95% CI, 0.6–7.8]). Having a greater number of different SVD markers was associated with a higher odds of poor collaterals (crude trend P <0.001; adjusted P =0.056). There was a dose-dependent relationship between white matter hyperintensity burden and poor collaterals: adjusted odds of poor collaterals were 1.5, 3.0, and 9.7 across Fazekas scores of 1 to 3 ( P trend=0.015). No patient with an SVD score of 4 had good collaterals. Conclusions— Chronic cerebral SVD is associated with poor recruitment of collaterals in large vessel occlusive stroke. A prospective study to elucidate the potential mechanism of how SVD may impair the recruitment of collaterals is ongoing.


2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 41-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna-Märta Gustavsson ◽  
Erik Stomrud ◽  
Kasim Abul-Kasim ◽  
Lennart Minthon ◽  
Peter M. Nilsson ◽  
...  

Background: Arterial stiffness reflects the ageing processes in the vascular system, and studies have shown an association between reduced cognitive function and cerebral small vessel disease. Small vessel disease can be visualized as white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and lacunar infarcts but also as cerebral microbleeds on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We aimed to investigate if arterial stiffness influences the presence of microbleeds, WMH and cognitive function in a population of cognitively healthy elderly. Methods: The study population is part of the Swedish BioFinder study and consisted of 208 individuals without any symptoms of cognitive impairment, who scored >27 points on the Mini-Mental State Examination. The participants (mean age, 72 years; 59% women) underwent MRI of the brain with visual rating of microbleeds and WMH. Arterial stiffness was measured with carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV). Eight cognitive tests covering different cognitive domains were performed. Results: Microbleeds were detected in 12% and WMH in 31% of the participants. Mean (±standard deviation, SD) cfPWV was 10.0 (±2.0) m/s. There was no association between the presence of microbleeds and arterial stiffness. There was a positive association between arterial stiffness and WMH independent of age or sex (odds ratio, 1.58; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-2.40, p < 0.05), but the effect was attenuated when further adjustments for several cardiovascular risk factors were performed (p > 0.05). Cognitive performance was not associated with microbleeds, but individuals with WMH performed slightly worse than those without WMH on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (mean ± SD, 35 ± 7.8 vs. 39 ± 8.1, p < 0.05). Linear regression revealed no direct associations between arterial stiffness and the results of the cognitive tests. Conclusions: Arterial stiffness was not associated with the presence of cerebral microbleeds or cognitive function in cognitively healthy elderly. However, arterial stiffness was related to the presence of WMH, but the association was attenuated when multiple adjustments were made. There was a weak negative association between WMH and performance in one specific test of attention. Longitudinal follow-up studies are needed to further assess the associations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bibek Gyanwali ◽  
Benedict Lui ◽  
Chuen Seng Tang ◽  
Eddie Jun Yi Chong ◽  
Henri Vrooman ◽  
...  

Background: Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD); lacunes, cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) have a vital role in cognitive impairment and dementia. SVD in lobar location is related to cerebral amyloid angiopathy, whereas SVD in a deep location with hyper- tensive arteriopathy. It remains unclear how different locations of SVD affect long-term cognitive de- cline. The present study aimed to analyse the association between different locations and severity of SVD with global and domain-specific cognitive decline over the follow-up interval of 3 years. Methods: We studied 428 participants who had performed MRI scans at baseline and at least 3 neuro- psychological assessments. Locations of lacunes and CMBs were categorized into strictly lobar, strictly deep and mixed-location, WMH volume into anterior and posterior. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke-Canadian Stroke Network Harmonization Neuropsychological Battery was used to assess cognitive function. To analyse the association between baseline location and severity of SVD with cognitive decline, linear regression models with generalized estimated equations were constructed to calculate the mean difference, 95% confidence interval and two-way interaction factor between time and SVD. Results: Increased numbers of baseline CMBs were associated with a decline in global cognition as well as a decline in executive function and memory domains. Location-specific analysis showed simi- lar results with strictly lobar CMBs. There was no association with strictly deep and mixed-location CMBs with cognitive decline. Baseline WMH volume was associated with a decline in global cogni- tion, executive function and memory. Similar results were obtained with anterior and posterior WMH volumes. Lacunes and their locations were not associated with cognitive decline. Conclusion: Strictly lobar CMBs, as well as WMH volume in anterior and posterior regions, were associated with cognitive decline. Future research focuses are warranted to evaluate interventions that may prevent cognitive decline related to SVD.


Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (11) ◽  
pp. 3271-3278
Author(s):  
Lily W. Zhou ◽  
William J. Panenka ◽  
Ghadeer Al-Momen ◽  
Kristina M. Gicas ◽  
Allen E. Thornton ◽  
...  

Background and Purpose: We aim to describe the burden, characteristics, and cognitive associations of cerebral small vessel disease in a Canadian sample living with multimorbidity in precarious housing. Methods: Participants received T1, T2-fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, and susceptibility-weighted imaging 3T magnetic resonance imaging sequences and comprehensive clinical, laboratory, and cognitive assessments. Cerebral small vessel disease burden was characterized using a modified Small Vessel Disease (mSVD) score. One point each was given for moderate-severe white matter hyperintensities, ≥1 cerebral microbleeds, and ≥1 lacune. Multivariable regression explored associations between mSVD score, risk factors, and cognitive performance. Results: Median age of the 228 participants (77% male) was 44.7 years (range, 23.3–63.2). In n=188 participants with consistent good quality magnetic resonance imaging sequences, mSVD scores were 0 (n=127, 68%), 1 (n=50, 27%), and 2 (n=11, 6%). Overall, one-third had an mSVD ≥1 n=61 (32%); this proportion was unchanged when adding participants with missing sequences n=72/228 (32%). The most prevalent feature was white matter hyperintensities 53/218 (24%) then cerebral microbleed 16/191 (8%) and lacunes 16/228 (7%). Older age (odds ratio, 1.10 [95% CI, 1.05–1.15], P <0.001), higher diastolic blood pressure (odds ratio, 1.05 [95% CI, 1.01–1.09], P =0.008), and a history of injection drug use (odds ratio, 3.13 [95% CI, 1.07–9.16], P =0.037) had significant independent associations with a mSVD score of ≥1 in multivariable analysis. mSVD ≥1 was associated with lower performance on tests of verbal memory, sustained attention, and decision-making, contributing 4% to 5% of the variance in each cognitive domain. Conclusions: The 32% prevalence of cerebral small vessel disease in this young, socially marginalized cohort was higher than expected for age and was associated with poorer cognitive performance.


2020 ◽  
Vol 78 (4) ◽  
pp. 1765-1774
Author(s):  
Yuichiro Ii ◽  
Hidehiro Ishikawa ◽  
Hirofumi Matsuyama ◽  
Akihiro Shindo ◽  
Keita Matsuura ◽  
...  

Background: Hypertensive arteriopathy (HA) and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) may contribute to the development of mixed cerebral microbleeds (CMBs). Recently, the total small vessel disease (SVD) scores for HA and CAA were proposed, which are determined by a combination of MRI markers to reflect overall severity of these microangiopathies. Objective: We investigated whether or not total HA-SVD and CAA-SVD scores could be used to predict overlap of HA and CAA in patients with mixed CMBs. Methods: Fifty-three subjects with mixed CMBs were retrospectively analyzed. MRI markers (CMBs, lacunes, perivascular space, white matter hyperintensity [WMH] and cortical superficial siderosis [cSS]) were assessed. The HA-SVD score and CAA-SVD score were obtained for each subject. Anterior or posterior WMH was also assessed using the age-related white matter changes scale. Results: The two scores were positively correlated (ρ= 0.449, p < 0.001). The prevalence of lobar dominant CMB distribution (p < 0.001) and lacunes in the centrum semiovale (p < 0.001) and the severity of WMH in the parieto-occipital lobes (p = 0.004) were significantly higher in the high CAA-SVD score group. cSS was found in four patients with high CAA-SVD score who showed lobar-dominant CMB distribution and severe posterior WMH. Conclusion: Mixed CMBs are mainly due to HA. Assessing both two scores may predict the overlap of HA and CAA in individuals with mixed CMBs. Patients with a high CAA-SVD score may have some degree of advanced CAA, especially when lobar predominant CMBs, severe posterior WMH, lobar lacunes, or cSS are observed.


2016 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 833-841 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon W Blair ◽  
Fergus N Doubal ◽  
Michael J Thrippleton ◽  
Ian Marshall ◽  
Joanna M Wardlaw

Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) pathophysiology is poorly understood. Cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) impairment may play a role, but evidence to date is mainly indirect. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows investigation of CVR directly in the tissues affected by SVD. We systematically reviewed the use of MRI to measure CVR in subjects with SVD. Five studies (total n = 155 SVD subjects, 84 controls) provided relevant data. The studies included different types of patients. Each study used blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) MRI to assess CVR but a different vasoactive stimulus and method of calculating CVR. CVR decreased with increasing white matter hyperintensities in two studies ( n = 17, 11%) and in the presence of microbleeds in another. Three studies ( n = 138, 89%) found no association of CVR with white matter hyperintensities. No studies provided tissue-specific CVR values. CVR decreased with age in three studies, and with female gender and increasing diastolic blood pressure in one study. Safety and tolerability data were limited. Larger studies using CVR appear to be feasible and are needed, preferably with more standardized methods, to determine if specific clinical or radiological features of SVD are more or less associated with impaired CVR.


2016 ◽  
Vol 73 (8) ◽  
pp. 994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Charidimou ◽  
Sergi Martinez-Ramirez ◽  
Yael D. Reijmer ◽  
Jamary Oliveira-Filho ◽  
Arne Lauer ◽  
...  

Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mozhu Ding ◽  
Rui Wang ◽  
Grégoria Kalpouzos ◽  
Erika J. Laukka ◽  
Yuanjing Li ◽  
...  

Background and Purpose: Cerebral small vessel disease, as a potential mechanism underlying the association between atrial fibrillation (AF) and dementia, remains poorly investigated. In this cohort study, we sought to examine the association between AF and cerebral small vessel disease markers among older adults. Methods: Data on 336 participants (age ≥60 years, mean 70.2 years; 60.2% women) free of dementia, disability, and cerebral infarcts were derived from the population-based Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen. Structural brain magnetic resonance imaging examinations were performed at baseline (2001–2004) and follow-ups (2004–2007 and 2007–2010). Magnetic resonance imaging markers of cerebral small vessel disease included perivascular spaces, lacunes, and volumes of white matter hyperintensities, lateral ventricles, and total brain tissue. AF was assessed at baseline and follow-ups through clinical examinations, electrocardiogram, and medical records. Data were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. Results: At baseline, 18 persons (5.4%) were identified to have prevalent AF and 17 (5.6%) developed incident AF over the 6-year follow-up. After multivariable adjustment, AF was significantly associated with a faster annual increase in white matter hyperintensities volume (β coefficient=0.45 [95% CI, 0.04–0.86]) and lateral ventricular volume (0.58 [0.13–1.02]). There was no significant association of AF with annual changes in perivascular spaces number (β coefficient=0.53 [95% CI, −0.27 to 1.34]) or lacune number (−0.01 [−0.07 to 0.05]). Conclusions: Independent of cerebral infarcts, AF is associated with accelerated progression of white matter lesions and ventricular enlargement among older adults.


2014 ◽  
Vol 39 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 92-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Soo Shim ◽  
Dong-Won Yang ◽  
Catherine M. Roe ◽  
Mary A. Coats ◽  
Tammie L. Benzinger ◽  
...  

Background/Aims: We investigated the histopathological correlates of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) in participants with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or cerebrovascular disease, and in aged controls. Methods: We reviewed 57 participants who had neuropathology and in whom neuroimaging was done. In addition to AD pathology, cortical microinfarcts, lacunes, and cerebral hemorrhages were assessed. Small-vessel disease included arteriolosclerosis and cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Postmortem brain tissue corresponding to regions of WMHs was investigated in 14 participants. The variables included: demyelination of the deep and periventricular white matter (WM), atrophy of the ventricular ependyma, and thickness of blood vessels. Partial Spearman's rank test and linear regression analysis, adjusted for age at the clinical evaluation and the duration to death, were performed. Results: The severity of arteriosclerosis was correlated with the volume of periventricular hyperintensity (PVH) estimated by magnetic resonance imaging. Deep white matter hyperintensity (DWMH) volume was correlated with the presence of cortical microinfarcts and cerebral hemorrhages. The severity of the breakdown of the ventricular lining was correlated with PVHs, and DWMHs correlated with the severity of deep WM demyelination. The diameter of small blood vessels was not associated with WMHs. Conclusion: WMHs are consistent with small-vessel disease and increase the tissue water content. We found no association between WMHs and the thickness of small blood vessels. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel


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