MSc projects 2021 005

The relationship of the progression of WMH volume (examined by MRI) with cognitive decline in older adults without dementia.

Abstract:
  • ObjectivesThe aim of this study is to review the quality of longitudinal studies that examined the relationship between the progression of the white matter hyperintensities volume detected on MRI and cognitive impairment in participants older adults with no diagnosis of dementia.
  • MethodsMedline and Embase (January 2013- December 2018) and bibliographies from included articles were used. We identified longitudinal studies that conducted measurements at two time points or more to detect change of WMH Volume on MRI and change in cognition by either a decline in the scores of cognitive tests or by developing a dementia diagnosis. The follow-up should be of 1 year or longer duration. Data were extracted by one person and the quality of the methodology of the measurements of the changes in WMH volume and cognitive testing were examined
  • Results50 papers showing changes in cognition and WMHV over time were identified however only 20 of them examined the corelation between the two changes. Some of the studies reviewed showed corelation between progression of WMHV and general functioning decline measured by the Mini Mental State Examination additionally executive functioning and information processing speed seem to be the domains that are most affected with the changes however the use of standard, validated data collection that accounts for vascular disease are suboptimal despite the availability of standards like STRIVE (STandards for ReportIng Vascular changes on nEuroimaging) and the NINDS-CSN (the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke and Canadian Stroke Network
Project type:
  • Systematic review
Imaging keywords:
Application / disease keywords:
  • Cognitive testing
  • Dementia
  • White matter hyperintensities (WMH)
Supervisor(s):
Programme:
Year:
  • 20-21