Thais Minett PhD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Blossom Stephan, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Shabina Hayat, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Stephanie Moore, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Elliott Grigg, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Robert Luben, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Fiona Matthews, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Carol Brayne, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kay-Tee Khaw, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To assess the impact of White Matter Lesions (WML) on global and domain specific cognitive functions and whether vascular co-morbidities modify these associations in a population-based sample.

Participants were recruited from a population-based study. At baseline (1993-1997) 30,446 participants aged 40-79 years were selected from general practices. Participants were re-seen in later life, 13 years follow-up (wave III). The core data resources include lifestyle/physical activity, diet, medical status, and blood samples. The present study added a pilot neuroimaging component to this project. From participants seen at wave III, 67 were randomly selected weighted towards the more cognitively frail. Participants were scanned and WML were rated using the Fazekas' scale on FLAIR acquisitions. Cognition was assessed using the Addenbrookes Cognitive Examination (ACE-R) battery and cognitive domains divided into memory, attention, fluency, language and visuospacial. The vascular factors considered were: stroke; heart disease; diabetes; cholesterol; blood pressure; current smoker; body mass index (BMI); alcohol intake.

There was a significant association between WML intensity and attention (β = -0.75; 95%CI(β)= -1.42, -0.08). This relationship was independent of age, sex and presence of multiple vascular risk factors. No significant relationship was demonstrated between WML ratings and global cognition or memory, fluency, language and visuospacial performance.

WML were found to be associated with impairment of attention. Moreover, this association was independent of age, sex and the presence of multiple vascular risk factors. Our findings suggest that there might be other factors, potentially non-vascular, contributing to the relationship between WML and impairment in executive function.

The fact that there might be other contributing factors to the relationship between WML and impairment in executive function has implications for intervention targets aimed at promoting cognitive function in older aged individuals.

Minett, T, Stephan, B, Hayat, S, Moore, S, Grigg, E, Luben, R, Matthews, F, Brayne, C, Khaw, K, White Matter Lesions (WML), Cognitive Domains and Vascular Factors in a Population-based Cohort Study.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14001107.html