RELATION BETWEEN MRI FEATURES AND DEMENTIA IN CEREBROVASCULAR-DISEASEPATIENTS WITH LEUKOARAIOSIS - A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY

We examined selective MRI features (localization and degree of white m atter abnormalities, cortical and subcortical atrophy) in relation to cognitive decline in patients with cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and l eukoaraiosis (LA). We enrolled 6 female and 18 male CVD patients (mean age 66.2 +/- 6.6 years) whose Magnetic Resonance images (MRI) reveale d LA and who displayed a history of stroke or TIA; none showed signs o f cortical infarcts or normal pressure hydrocephalus. Two blind raters independently scored MRI scans with a high level of agreement. All pa tients underwent extensive clinico-neuropsychological assessment upon admission to the study and 19 were followed for an average of 48 +/- 7 .6 months. Twelve patients were initially classified as non-demented a nd 12 as demented. Three years later, one in the former group had beco me demented and mental impairment had worsened for 6 patients in the l atter group; these 7 subjects were labeled as ''decliners''. Ventricul ar indexes were significantly higher in the demented group and correla ted with severity of mental impairment, while the degree of LA was sim ilar in demented and non-demented subjects. Neither white matter lesio ns nor sulcal and ventricular enlargement differed statistically betwe en decliners and non-decliners.