| Home > Publications database > White Matter Lesions spatial distribution patterns related to cardiovascular aging follow arterial supply territories |
| Abstract | FZJ-2025-05030 |
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2025
Abstract: White matter lesions (WML) in brain MRI scans are common in older adults and are linked to cognitive, mood, and motor disorders, as well as increased risks of dementia and stroke. These lesions are influenced by lifestyle and cardiovascular factors. To explore the relationship between cardiovascular health and WML spatial distribution, we analysed the similarity between participants using k-means clustering, based on WML center location, WML burden, and cardiovascular health status, in two population-based cohorts: 1000BRAINS (n=1,040, ages 18-85) and NAKO (n=27,559, ages 19-74). Cardiovascular health status was summarized using a ‘cardiovascular age’ score, which included age, sex, blood pressure, hypertension medication, smoking status, diabetes diagnosis, and cholesterol levels. We mapped the affected brain areas on the Digital 3D Brain MRI Arterial Territories Atlas and tested each cluster’s mean WML distribution, surpassing 95% bootstrap confidence.Our findings revealed five distinct WML spatial distribution patterns in each cohort, four of which were common across both. These patterns highlighted specific arterial territories with varying degrees of WML presence, providing evidence that WML spatial distributions are influenced by cardiovascular aging. Additionally, the medial lenticulostriate territory emerged as the first arterial region affected in normal aging.
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