Subcortical ischemic vascular disease and cognition: A systematic review

• Main Authors: Gilberto Sousa Alves, Carlos Eduardo de Oliveira Alves, Maria Elisa Lanna, Denise Madeira Moreira, Eliasz Engelhardt, Jerson Laks
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Associação Neurologia Cognitiva e do Comportamento
• Series: Dementia & Neuropsychologia
• Subjects: neuropsychology; vascular dementia; cerebrovascular disorders; cognition
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1980-57642008000200082&lng=en&tlng=en

Abstract Subcortical Ischemic Vascular Disease (SIVD) is underdiagnosed. This review investigates the relationship among SIVD severity, cognitive status and neuroimaging markers. Methods: Cohort, cross-sectional and case control studies were searched on ISI, Medline, Scielo, PsychoInfo and LILACS databases published between 1995 and 2006. Results: The most impaired cognitive domains were executive, attentional and memory retrieval mechanisms. These cognitive features were frequently associated to White Matter Lesions (WML). Conclusions: WML is an independent factor in cognitive decline. However, the threshold for this impact is not yet clearly established.