Lobar microbleeds are associated with cognitive impairment in patients with lacunar infarction

Associations between cognitive decline and cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) have received increasing attention. An association between CMB distribution (deep or lobar) and cognitive decline has been reported, but these findings are controversial. We investigated the association between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, including CMBs, and cognitive function in patients with first-ever lacunar infarction. We retrospectively included consecutive patients admitted with first-ever lacunar infarction identified by MRI from July 1, 2011, to December 31, 2018. We excluded patients diagnosed with dementia, including strategic single-infarct dementia, before or after the onset of stroke. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was performed within 3 days of admission. We searched the records of 273 patients (age 72.0 ± 11.2 years, 95 females). The median MMSE score was 27 (interquartile range 25.5–29). In a univariate analysis, the MMSE score was associated with age, body mass index (BMI), education, dyslipidemia, chronic kidney disease (CKD), periventricular hyperintensity, medial temporal atrophy, lobar CMBs, and mixed CMBs (p < 0.20). The lacunar infarction location was not associated with the MMSE score. In a multivariate analysis of these factors, lobar CMBs (p < 0.001) and mixed CMBs (p = 0.008) were independently associated with the MMSE score. Lobar CMBs were associated with cognitive impairment.

Abstract TP181: Serum Eiocosapentaenoic Acids Is Protective Against White Matter Lesions

[Introduction] White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are considered manifestation of arteriosclerotic small vessel disease and WMH burden increases risk of ischemic stroke and cognitive decline. There are only a few evidences concerning the relationship between polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and WMH. The present study was designed to elucidate the association between WMH and PUFA profile including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). [Methods] The present study was based on 119 patients who were diagnosed as having a probable AD according to the NINCDS-ADRDA criteria. Their mean age was 78.3 years old. All subjects underwent neuropsychological evaluation including mini mental state exam (MMSE) and 1.5-Tesla MRI. Fasting blood samples were also collected for the PUFA measurements. We measured the ratio of serum EPA, DHA and AA concentration to the total PUFA concentration. The WMH were evaluated on T2-weight images and classified into periventricular hyperintensity (PVH) and deep white matter hyperintensity (DWMH). The severity of WMH was graded 5 categories. We investigated the relationship between WMH and PUFA profiles. [Results] The EPA ratio correlated negatively with both PVH (rs=-0.2036, p=0.0264) and DWMH grade (rs=-0.3155, p=0.0005). It remained still significant after adjustment for age, sex, statins use, antithrombotics use, mean blood pressure and presence of hypertension (standardized partial regression coefficient(β)=-0.2516, p=0.0122 for PVH, β=-0.3598, p=0.0001 for DWMH). Neither DHA nor AA ratio correlated with DWMH or PVH grade. The EPA ratio but not DHA or AA ratio correlated positively with total MMSE score (rs=0.2310, p=0.0115). [Conclusions] Our data revealed that the serum EPA was protective against WMH as well as cognitive decline in AD patients. Pathophysiology underlying WMH is complex and the possible mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of WMH encompass incomplete brain ischemia, increased permeability of blood-brain barrier, and inflammation responses. The relationship between serum EPA and WMH can be partly explained by those anti-ischemic and anti-arteriosclerotic effects of EPA.

Abstract TP186: Associations Of Durations Of Antiplatelet Use And Vascular Risk Factors With The Presence Of Cerebral Microbleeds

The association of the presence of cerebral microbleeds with antiplatelet use remains controversial. Long durations of antiplatelet use and vascular risk factors may have a greater effect on the development of microbleeds than short durations. Our aim in the present study was to determine whether the durations of antiplatelet use and vascular risk factors are associated with cerebral microbleeds. Two hundred twenty outpatients with cerebrovascular disease detected by MRI were examined. Cerebral microbleeds were observed in 71 (32.3%) patients, and deep or infratentorial microbleeds and strictly lobar microbleeds in 53 (24.1%) patients and 18 (8.2%) patients, respectively. To determine the association the between durations of vascular risk factors and antiplatelet use, radiological findings regarding the presence and location of cerebral microbleeds were assessed by multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, and relevant confounders. The duration of hypertension, the presence of lacunar infarcts and the severity of periventricular hyperintensity were associated with microbleeds in a deep or infratentorial region. Antiplatelet use and its duration of were not associated with the presence or location of microbleeds. Our results suggest that deep or infratentorial microbleeds reflect the severity of hypertensive vasculopathy. Thus, antiplatelet use may not be associated with the presence of cerebral microbleeds.