Effects of cerebral hypoperfusion on the cerebral white matter: a meta-analysis

Decreased cerebral blood flow (CBF) in aging is known to induce aging‑related cerebral deteriorations, such as neuronal degeneration, white matter (WM) alterations, and vascular deformations. However, the effects of cerebral hypoperfusion on WM alterations remain unclear. This study investigates the relationship between cerebral hypoperfusion and WM total volume changes by assessing the trends in CBF and WM changes by meta‑analysis. In this meta‑analysis, the differences in CBF were compared according to cerebral hypoperfusion type and the effect of cerebral hypoperfusion on the total volume of WM changes in rodents. Using subgroup analysis, 13 studies were evaluated for comparing CBF according to the type of cerebral hypoperfusion; 12 studies were evaluated for comparing the effects of cerebral hypoperfusion on the total volume of WM changes. Our meta‑analysis shows that the total volume of WM decreases with a decrease in CBF. However, the reduction in\r\nthe total volume of WM was greater in normal aging mice than in the cerebral hypoperfusion model mice. These results suggest that the reduction of cerebral WM volume during the aging process is affected by other factors in addition to a decrease in CBF.