脑小血管病相关脑白质高信号与认知障碍相关性的影像学研究进展OA

White matter hyperintensities(WMH)are a typical imaging hallmark of cerebral small vessel disease(CSVD).Early-stage WMH may reflect reversible injuries,such as interstitial fluid circulation disorders,whereas advanced WMH indicate permanent lesions like demyelination and axonal loss.CSVD-related WMH are closely correlated with the progression of cognitive impairment.This correlation is manifested not only in the impacts of total WMH burden and spatial distribution on cognitive function,but also in the significant association between WMH and abnormalities in brain microstructure and function.Therefore,WMH may serve as an important imaging mediator for CSVD-related cognitive impairment induced by brain microstructural and functional abnormalities.This review focuses on the pathophysiological mechanisms of CSVD-related WMH,their direct correlation with cognitive impairment,and recent advances in imaging research regarding their multiple associations with underlying brain microstructural and functional injuries of cognitive impairment.The aim is to deepen the understanding of the role and significance of WMH,a core imaging sign of CSVD,in the clinical assessment of CSVD-related cognitive impairment,and to provide objective evidence for further research,diagnosis,and treatment of this condition.Furthermore,this review identifies the limitations in the current research and proposes potential avenues for future investigation.