Effects of hippocampal atrophy and white matter lesions on cognitive function in Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract Background We investigated the effects of white matter lesions and hippocampal atrophy on head MRI on cognitive function in AD patients. Method We examined 47 patients who were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease according to the ATN classification at the geriatric department of Tokyo Medical University Hospital. We evaluated the severity of white matter damage by the sum of PVH and DWMH in the Fazekas classification on head MRI at the first visit, and hippocampal atrophy by VSRAD. Result There was a significant correlation between white matter impairment and cognitive changes (r = 0.292, p<0.05). And the correlation test for hippocampus atrophy and MMSE change was also performed with correlation coefficients r = 0.00926 and p = 0.951 (>0.05). Conclusion The sum of PVH and DWMH and the amount of change in MMSE were positively correlated in AD patients. Therefore, it was concluded that the more severe the white matter disorder, the slower the progression of cognitive decline. These results suggest that advanced white matter disorders may inhibit the progression of AD in AD patients.