Cerebrovascular markers of WMH and infarcts in ADNI: A historical perspective and future directions

Abstract

White matter hyperintensities (WMH) and infarcts found on magnetic resonance imaging (MR infarcts) are common biomarkers of cerebrovascular disease. In this review, we summarize the methods, publications, and conclusions stemming from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) related to these measures. We combine analysis of WMH and MR infarct data from across the three main ADNI cohorts with a review of existing literature discussing new methodologies and scientific findings derived from these data. Although ADNI inclusion criteria were designed to minimize vascular risk factors and disease, data across all the ADNI cohorts found consistent trends of increasing WMH volumes associated with advancing age, female sex, and cognitive impairment. ADNI, initially proposed as a study to investigate biomarkers of AD pathology, has also helped elucidate the impact of asymptomatic cerebrovascular brain injury on cognition within a cohort relatively free of vascular disease. Future ADNI work will emphasize additional vascular biomarkers.