Role of White Matter Hyperintensities and Related Risk Factors in Vascular Cognitive Impairment: A Review

Abstract

White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) of presumed vascular origin are one of the imaging markers of cerebral small-vessel disease, which is prevalent in older individuals and closely associated with the occurrence and development of cognitive impairment. The heterogeneous nature of the imaging manifestations of WMHs creates difficulties for early detection and diagnosis of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) associated with WMHs. Because the underlying pathological processes and biomarkers of WMHs and their development in cognitive impairment remain uncertain, progress in prevention and treatment is lagging. For this reason, this paper reviews the status of research on the features of WMHs related to VCI, as well as mediators associated with both WMHs and VCI, and summarizes potential treatment strategies for the prevention and intervention in WMHs associated with VCI.