Cerebral small vessel disease and cognitive impairment

Abstract

Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) gives rise to one in five strokes worldwide, which affect the small arteries, arterioles, capillaries and small veins of the brain.CSVD is associated with recent small subcortical infarct, lacuna of presumed vascular origin, white matter hyperintensity of presumed vascular origin, perivascular space, cerebral microbleeds, and brain atrophy.CSVD constitutes a major source of cognitive decline, affective disorder, urinary disorders, gait disturbances, impaired activities of daily living particularly in the elderly.The review will focus on recent progress on the clinical features of cognition, the neuroimaging, treatment and the prospective in the future study. Key words: Small vessel disease; Cognition