Neuroimaging of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease and Age-Related Cognitive Changes.

• Authors: Michelle R. Caunca, University of Miami; Andres De Leon, Emory University; Lawrence Latour, National Institutes of Health; Richard Leigh, National Institutes of Health; Clinton B. Wright, National Institutes of Health
• Journal Title: Front Aging Neurosci
• Volume: Volume 11
• Publisher: Frontiers | 2019, Pages 145-145
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2019.00145
• Subjects: Biology, Neuroscience; Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery
• Keywords: aging; brain MRI; cerebrovascular disease; cognitive aging; neuroimaging

Abstract

Subclinical cerebrovascular disease is frequently identified in neuroimaging studies and is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of cognitive disorders. Identifying the etiologies of different types of lesions may help investigators differentiate between age-related and pathological cerebrovascular damage in cognitive aging. In this review article, we aim to describe the epidemiology and etiology of various brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures of vascular damage in cognitively normal, older adult populations. We focus here on population-based prospective cohort studies of cognitively unimpaired older adults, as well as discuss the heterogeneity of MRI findings and their relationships with cognition. This review article emphasizes the need for a better understanding of subclinical cerebrovascular disease in cognitively normal populations, in order to more effectively identify and prevent cognitive decline in our rapidly aging population.