Frontiers in Neuroscience: Abnormal cerebrovascular responses and functional connectivity due to white matter hyperintensity lead to cognitive decline

Epidemiological studies have shown that white matter hyperintensity (WMH) can be observed in 72-96% of Europeans over the age of 60 and 70% of Chinese over the age of 50
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There is increasing evidence that mental health burden has a negative impact on cognition, mainly on executive function and information processing speed

Epidemiological studies have shown that white matter hyperintensity (WMH) can be observed in 72-96% of Europeans over the age of 60 and 70% of Chinese over the age of 50

Yun Xu Yun Xu et al published a research article entitled Abnormal Cerebrovascular Reactivity and Functional Connectivity Caused by White Matter Hyperintensity Contribute to Cognitive Decline in Frontiers in Neuroscience, exploring the relationship between cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR ) and functional connectivity (FC) The effects of WMH-related cognitive decline, and the exact relationship between WMH, CVR, FC, and cognitive decline

This study assessed CVR and FC in WMH-I, WMH-II, and WMH-III populations using rs-fMRI
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The relationship between WMH burden and decline in CVR, FC, and cognitive function was investigated

This study assessed CVR and FC in WMH-I, WMH-II, and WMH-III populations using rs-fMRI

A total of 233 WMH subjects were recruited for this study and grouped according to the Fazekas Visual Rating Scale into WMH-I (n=106), WMH-II (n=72) and WMH-III (n=55)

Subjects with higher WMH burden exhibited lower CVR in the left medial occipital gyrus (MOG)

Differences in CVR among the three groups

Differences in CVR among the three groups

Differences in FC among the three groups

Differences in FC among the three groups

The FC analysis using MOG as the seed point showed that with the aggravation of WMH, the FC of the left insula, left inferior parietal lobule and thalamus changed abnormally
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After adjusting for age, sex, and years of education, serial mediation analysis showed that periventricular white matter hyperintensity indirectly resulted in poorer Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores (indirect effect: β = -0.

The FC analysis with MOG as the seed point showed that with the aggravation of WMH, the FC of the left insula, left inferior parietal lobule and thalamus changed abnormally .

Pathway model shows direct and indirect relationship between white matter hyperintensity volume and cognitive function

Pathway model shows direct and indirect relationship between white matter hyperintensity volume and cognitive function

WMH- induced decrease in CVR of left MOG and abnormal left insula-MOG FC are responsible for poor general cognition (MMSE and MoCA) and information processing speed (TMT-A)
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Decreased CVR of the left MOG due to WMH WMH Decreased left insula-MOG FC abnormalities were responsible for poor general cognition (MMSE and MoCA) and information processing speed (TMT-A)
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Decreased CVR of the left MOG resulted in abnormal left insula-MOG FC, which was responsible for poor general cognition (MMSE and MoCA) and information processing speed (TMT-A)

original source

Yang D, Qin R, Chu L, et al.

Yang D, Qin R, Chu L, et al.
Abnormal Cerebrovascular Reactivity and Functional Connectivity Caused by White Matter Hyperintensity Contribute to Cognitive Decline.
Front Neurosci .
2022;16:807585.
Published 2022 Mar 4.
doi:10.
3389/fnins.
2022.
807585 Yang D, Qin R, Chu L, et al.
Abnormal Cerebrovascular Reactivity and Functional Connectivity Caused by White Matter Hyperintensity Contribute to Cognitive Decline.
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