Study of cognitive impairments caused by the white matter lesions in the frontal lobe in patients with subcortical ischemic vascular disease / 临床神经病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the pattern of cognitive impairments mainly caused by the white matter lesions(WML) in the frontal lobe in patients with subcortical ischemic vascular disease (SIVD).Methods Fifty SIVD patients were divided into severe WML group (visual score >3, n=27) and mild WML group(visual score ≤3, n=23) according to their severities of the WML in frontal lobe .Seven patients without SIVD were collected as controls .All patients underwent a set of neuropsychological battery ,and the results were analyzed .Results There was no statistical significance among three groups on basic data .Compared with mild WML group and control group , non frontal white matter scores and numbers of lacunes in frontal lobe of severe WML group were significantly higher ( all P=0.000).Compared with mild WML group,the Montreal cognitive assessment scale in severe WML group were significantly lower ( P=0.047 ) , and scores related to the executive function were significantly lower ( P=0.006 ) , even after adjusting the numbers of lacunes in frontal lobe ,there was statistically significant difference (P=0.038). Multiple regression confirmed that the Z scores of executive functions were mainly affected by white matter lesions located in the frontal lobe ( P=0.000 ) .Conclusion WML located in the frontal lobe mainly affect the executive function in patients with SIVD .