Survival, cognitive functions, and brain MRI in patients with cSVD: 5-year observation

Introduction. Contributing to high disability and mortality, cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) is a common condition in senior and elderly individuals. 
Objective: to assess the 5-year survival as well as cognitive and MRI changes in patients with cSVD and cognitive impairment (CI). 
Materials and methods. A prospective 5-year study included 54 patients (of them 37 women; mean age: 60.51 6.76 years) with cSVD, CIs, and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs; Fazekas 23). Twenty-two subjects were followed up to assess cognitive functions and a type of CI, cSVD MRI features, WMH, white and grey matter, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volume as well as microstructural brain changes and correlate cognitive and MRI parameters at 5 years timepoint after the baseline. 
Results. Dementia developed in 14% of the subjects and 14% of the subjects died over a 5-year period. The subjects assessed twice had controlled hypertension (HTN). CIs worsened in the domain of executive functions and memory with mixed-type CI worsening. The follow-up showed that the WMH and CSF volume increased while the white matter volume decreased and axial diffusivity increased in the corpus callosum. The CSF volume correlated with the Stroop Test results and delayed memory (r = 0.803 and r = 0.701, respectively) and with white matter atrophy (r = 0.256) while the latter correlated with the axial diffusivity increased in the corpus callosum (r = 0.560). 
Conclusion. cSVD with advanced WMHs is associated with high mortality and dementia progression. General cognition assessment and MRI scan are not enough sensitive to assess disorder progression over a 5-year period. Stroop Test and Delayed 10-Word Recall Test results and transition to mixed-type CI indicate CI worsening and, therefore, can be used for the follow-up assessment. Cognitive decline in extensive cSVD is mediated by the brain matter atrophy and altered CSF circulation.