RESUMO
Objective:The changes both within lesions and normal-appearing white matter load on T2-weighted MRI in patients with ischemic leukoaraiosis(ILA) was investigated by diffusion tensor MRI(DTI) and the relation between the changes of DTI parameters and cognitive dysfunction was assessed.Methods: Thirty-four patiens with ischemic leukoaraiosis and 19 healthy volunteers underwent DTI,conventional MRI,and neuropsychological assessment. Results: In ILA group,on DTI,diffusity was increased within lesions and in normal-appearing white matter compared with the control group,FA was reduced.The changes of MD in the NAWM correlates with full scale intelligence quotient(IQ) and executive dysfunction,the changes of FA in the NAWM correlates with global cognitive impairment assessed by the MMSE. Conclusion: DTI can reveal pathological changes in normal-appearing white matter load on T2-weighted MRI in patients with ischemic leukoaraiosis,which correlates with cognitive dysfunctions.