Release date: 2009-03-17
The human body is not only loose in the bones, but also in the brain. More specifically, it's the white matter that becomes affected. According to the Department of Neurology at Nanjing General Hospital, severe leukoaraiosis can lead to a significant decline in cognitive function, often associated with Alzheimer’s disease. In standard brain imaging, the brain appears as an elliptical bright area in the center, resembling an irregular egg, with the ventricles located inside and surrounded by gray matter. However, some people may notice white areas outside this bright region, sometimes even forming a continuous patch around the ventricles. To the untrained eye, it might look like the brain has been "cracked" or "hollowed out." If such changes are seen on an imaging test, it could be a sign of leukoaraiosis.
Professor Liu Xinfeng from the Department of Neurology explains that the brain consists of gray matter, which contains neurons, and white matter, made up of nerve fibers. These two components work together to form the brain. When the white matter is affected, it can lead to cognitive issues. Recent studies suggest that white matter damage is closely linked to increasing cognitive impairments.
In a two-year study, experts followed 74 patients over 55 years old who had mild cognitive impairment—such as memory loss lasting more than three months and lower test scores than normal, but not yet meeting dementia criteria. After ruling out other causes, they performed brain imaging and found that 33 of them had leukoaraiosis. During follow-up, 9 out of the 41 patients without leukoaraiosis developed dementia (22%), while 15 out of the 33 with leukoaraiosis progressed to dementia (45%). This shows that leukoaraiosis significantly increases the risk of dementia and can act as an independent risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
Leukoaraiosis is primarily linked to poor cerebral blood flow and is closely related to cerebrovascular diseases. Professor Liu noted that if someone has more than two risk factors—such as smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, or advanced age—their brain imaging almost always shows signs of leukoaraiosis. Because it can be detected early through imaging, it allows for timely intervention.
Liu recommends that individuals with high blood pressure, diabetes, a history of smoking, or older age should consider undergoing simple brain imaging to understand their condition. For those at high risk, managing underlying conditions, controlling blood sugar and blood pressure, reducing vascular inflammation, and treating vascular disease are crucial. Under a doctor’s supervision, aspirin may help improve blood viscosity and serve as a simple, effective preventive measure. Additionally, engaging in rehabilitation training can slow down cognitive decline. Meditech Medical Network
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