Imaging changes in cerebral small vessel disease and risk factors of Alzheimer's disease: Meta⁃analysis

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the imaging changes in patients with cerebral small vessel disease(cSVD) and the risk factors of Alzheimer's disease(AD). Methods Retrieve relevant retrospective case analysis and observational studies that about cSVD and the risk factors of AD from online database (January 1, 1980-April 1, 2019) as PubMed, EMBASE/SCOPUS and Cochrane Library with key words: Alzheimer's disease, cerebral small vessel disease, white matter lesion, cerebral microbleeds, lacunar infarction. Selection of studies was performed according to pre⁃designed inclusion and exclusion criteria. Quality of studies was evaluated by using Newcastle⁃Ottawa Scale (NOS). All data were pooled by Stata 15.1 software for Meta⁃analysis. Results A total of 1452 articles were enrolled, from which 11 studies with NOS score≥5 were chosen after excluding duplicates and those not meeting the inclusion criteria. A total of 12882 patients were included. Meta⁃analysis showed that white matter lesion (RR=1.152,95%CI: 1.007-1.317; P=0.039) and cerebral microbleeds (RR=1.659, 95%CI: 1.085-2.537; P=0.019)increased the risk of AD;lacunar infarc did not increase the risk of AD(RR=1.298,95%CI:0.785-2.147; P=0.309). Conclusions The risk of Alzheimer's disease is increased in patients with white matter lesion and cerebral microbleeds. The cerebral small vessel disease may be involved in the occurrence of some Alzheimer's disease. When patients have the imaging changes of white matter lesion and cerebral microbleeds, should be paid on primary prevention of Alzheimer's disease.

Keywords

• Cerebral small vessel diseases; Alzheimer disease; Magnetic resonance imaging; Meta⁃analysis