Lesion location matters: The relationships between white matter hyperintensities on cognition in the healthy elderly

Description: This collection shows the topographical association of WMH and cognition in a sample of n = 702 healthy, non-demented elderly subjects (60 - 82). Furthermore, the WMH frequency map of the same cohort. Detailed information in the paper. We quantified WMH volume among healthy participants of a community dwelling cohort (n = 702, age range 60 – 82 years, mean age = 69.5 years, 46% female) and investigated the associations between WMH and cognition/ behavior, specifically for executive function, memory, and motor speed performance. Lesion location was related: Frontal WMH in the proximity of the frontal ventricles mainly affected executive function; parieto-temporal WMH in the proximity of the posterior horns was related to deteriorated memory; WMH in the upper deep white matter—including the corticospinal tract— was related to compromised motor speed performance. This study indicates the subtle and subclinical yet detrimental effects of WMH on cognition in healthy elderly and strongly suggests a causal influence of WMH on cognition by demonstrating the spatial specificity of these effects. Additionally, we show a a T-map of a VBM analysis with WMH volume as independent variable, corrected for age, sex, and TIV. Cohort: n = 890, between 60 and 82 years, relatively healthy (nor major brain pathology, no psychoactive drug intake). These results are not included in the paper or published anywhere else, but we thought it might be interesting anyway. For detailed information please contact lampe@cbs.mpg.de

Related article: http://doi.org/10.1177/0271678X17740501