Association of White Matter Hyperintensity Volume With Decreased Cognitive Functioning

Abstract

Imaging research finds that white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) occur in individuals presumed free of neurologic disease,^1,2 as well as those with stroke^3,4 and dementia.^5-7 The cause of WMH, however, remains a matter of debate; it may be associated with ischemic disease, as supported by positive associations with cerebrovascular risk factors,^8-12 or representative of nonspecific brain changes that reflect a variety of processes including normal aging, cerebrovascular disease, and Alzheimer disease.¹³