White matter hyperintensities classified according to intensity and spatial location reveal specific associations with cognitive performance

Luca Melazzini, Clare E Mackay, Valentina Bordin, Sana Suri, Enikő Zsoldos, Nicola Filippini, Abda Mahmood, Vaanathi Sundaresan, Marina Codari, Eugene Duff, Archana Singh-Manoux, Mika Kivimäki, Klaus P Ebmeier, Mark Jenkinson, Francesco Sardanelli, Ludovica Griffanti
2020 · doi:10.1101/2020.07.10.20149575
preprint OA: closed CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0
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Abstract

ABSTRACT White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) on T 2 -weighted images are radiological signs of cerebral small vessel disease. As their total volume is variably associated with cognition, a new approach that integrates multiple radiological criteria is warranted. Location may matter, as periventricular WMHs have been shown to be associated with cognitive impairments. WMHs that appear as hypointense in T 1 -weighted images (T 1 w) may also indicate the most severe component of WMHs. We developed an automatic method that classifies WMHs into four categories (periventricular/deep and T 1 w-hypointense/nonT 1 w-hypointense) using MRI data from 684 community-dwelling older adults from the Whitehall II study. To test if location and intensity information can impact cognition, we derived two general linear models using either overall or subdivided volumes. Results showed that periventricular T 1 w-hypointense WMHs were significantly associated with poorer performance in several cognitive tests. We found no association between total WMH volume and cognition. These findings suggest that classifying WMHs according to both location and intensity in T 1 w adds value over and above total WMH volume. HIGHLIGHTS Heterogeneous measures of WMHs are used in research and clinical practice. Location and image intensity should be considered in the assessment of WMHs. T 1 -hypointense WMHs were found to be associated with poorer cognitive performance. Sub-classes of WMHs provide promising results for translation into the clinic.

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License: CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0