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White matter hyperintensities and geriatric syndrome: An important role of arterial stiffness.
- Source :
-
Geriatrics & gerontology international [Geriatr Gerontol Int] 2015 Dec; Vol. 15 Suppl 1, pp. 17-25. - Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are defined as cerebral white matter changes presumed to be of vascular origin, bilateral and mostly symmetrical. They can appear as hyperintense on T2-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequences, and as isointense or hypointense on T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. WMH have been focused on because of their clinical importance as a risk factor for cerebrovascular diseases and cognitive impairment. WMH are associated with geriatric syndrome, which is defined by clinical symptoms characteristic of older adults, including cognitive and functional impairment and falls. Cerebral small vessel diseases, such as WMH, might play an important role as risk factors for cerebrovascular diseases, cognitive impairment and geriatric syndrome through the mechanism of arterial stiffness. However, the vascular, physiological and metabolic roles of arterial stiffness remain unclear. Basically, arterial stiffness indicates microvessel arteriosclerosis presenting with vascular endothelial dysfunction. These changes might arise from hemodynamic stress as a result of a "tsunami effect" on cerebral parenchyma. In the present article, we review the clinical characteristics of WMH, focusing particularly on two associations: (i) those between cerebral small vessel diseases including WMH and arterial stiffness; and (ii) those between WMH and geriatric syndrome.<br /> (© 2015 Japan Geriatrics Society.)
- Subjects :
- Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Brain Ischemia physiopathology
Cognition Disorders epidemiology
Disease Progression
Female
Geriatric Assessment methods
Geriatrics
Humans
Leukoaraiosis epidemiology
Leukoaraiosis pathology
Male
Prognosis
Risk Assessment
Syndrome
White Matter physiopathology
Aging physiology
Brain Ischemia pathology
Cognition Disorders physiopathology
Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging methods
Vascular Stiffness
White Matter pathology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1447-0594
- Volume :
- 15 Suppl 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Geriatrics & gerontology international
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 26671153
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/ggi.12673