The clinical risk factors of cerebral microbleeds and its relationship with cognitive dysfunction

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundTo explore the risk factors of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and the relationship between CMBs and cognitive impairment, and to provide more theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of CMBs and vascular cognitive impairment.MethodThe CMBs group was classified according to the number and location. The basic clinical data were collected and the subjects all received the cognitive tests using Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Neuropsychological Assessment Scales.ResultA total of 138 subjects [71 participants in CMBs group and 67 as control] were enrolled, with an average age of 64.36±10.14 years. Ordered logistic regression analysis showed diastolic blood pressure (OR=1.05, 95% CI: 1.01‐1.09), history of ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) (OR=7.74, 95% CI: 2.74) ‐21.88), white matter hyperintensities (OR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.46‐2.78) are independently associated with CMBs (P<0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that MMSE, MoCA, memory and executive function were correlated with CMBs (MMSE r=‐0.24, P=0.005; MoCA r=‐0.32, P<0.001; memory r=‐0.28, P=0.001; execution function r = ‐0.33, P<0.001). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that MoCA score, memory and executive function were negatively correlated with CMBs number after adjusting for gender, age, years of education, other imaging biomarkers of cerebral small vessel disease and vascular risk factors (MoCA β=‐0.88, P=0.012; memory β = ‐0.22, P = 0.002; executive function β = ‐0.13, P = 0.001). As for the location, the results showed that the executive function of patients with strict lobe CMBs was lower than that of control group (P=0.046). In terms of speed and motion control, the differences between deep group and control group (P=0.037), deep group and infratentorial group (P=0.005) were statistically significant.ConclusionDiastolic blood pressure, history of ischemic stroke / TIA, white matter hyperintensities were independent risk factors for CMBs. CMBs are associated with cognitive dysfunction. CMBs in the strict lobe area are associated with the decline of executive function, and CMBs in the deep area are associated with the decline of speed and motor control ability.