Morphology and pathogenesis of white matter changes in chronic cerebrovascular disease

Abstract

This review contains up-to-date information on the fundamentals and clinical aspects of white matter disease in chronic progressive cerebrovascular disease with cognitive impairment, the leading risk factors for which are hypertension and cerebral atherosclerosis. Highly informative methods of neuroimaging have contributed significantly to the study of this problem, confirming the important role of white matter changes in the development and progression of cognitive impairment. The full range of the morphological changes in white matter, typical of vascular encephalopathy and cognitive dysfunction, is presented. Chronic hypoperfusion and white matter ischaemia play a leading role in the pathogenesis of white matter changes in vascular dementia development, but alternative hypotheses are also emerging. Further fundamental morphological and clinical studies will help to determine the leading mechanisms of white matter damage in patients with vascular and other age-related forms of dementia. This is necessary for the development of effective methods of treatment and prevention.