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Associations of cholinergic white matter hyperintensity volume with cognitive decline and incident dementia in older adults: a cohort study
Heyang Lu, Rui Li, Jialin Li, Kelin Xu, Yanfeng Jiang, Yingzhe Wang, Xingdong Chen, Mei Cui. BMC Geriatrics, 2025-10-10
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
During follow-up, cholinergic WMHV was associated with an annual decline of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) (β coefficient, -0.239; P = 0.004), and incident dementia (HR = 3.54; 95%CI: 2.05-6.10). Within the cholinergic pathways, WMHs in corpus callosum and corona radiata were significantly related to incident dementia. Global WMHV was also associated with global cognitive decline (β coefficient, -0.049; P = 0.002). However, greater global WMHV only slightly increased the risk of incident dementia (HR = 1.23; 95%CI: 1.11-1.35). Neither global nor cholinergic WMHV was associated with MMSE in cross-sectional analysis. Cholinergic WMHV is associated with longitudinal cognitive decline and incident dementia in older adults, which might result from disruption of corpus callosum and corona radiata. These findings highlight the value of cholinergic WMHV as a potential indicator of cognitive deterioration.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Lu, H., Li, R., Li, J., Xu, K., Jiang, Y., Wang, Y., et al. (2025). Associations of cholinergic white matter hyperintensity volume with cognitive decline and incident dementia in older adults: a cohort study. BMC Geriatrics. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-06447-x
Vancouver
Lu H, Li R, Li J, Xu K, Jiang Y, Wang Y, et al. Associations of cholinergic white matter hyperintensity volume with cognitive decline and incident dementia in older adults: a cohort study. BMC Geriatrics. 2025. doi:10.1186/s12877-025-06447-x. PMID: 41073903.
BibTeX
@article{lu2025-41073903,
author = {Lu, Heyang and Li, Rui and Li, Jialin and Xu, Kelin and Jiang, Yanfeng and Wang, Yingzhe and Chen, Xingdong and Cui, Mei},
title = {{Associations of cholinergic white matter hyperintensity volume with cognitive decline and incident dementia in older adults: a cohort study}},
journal = {BMC Geriatrics},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1186/s12877-025-06447-x},
pmid = {41073903},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-06447-x}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- During follow-up, cholinergic WMHV was associated with an annual decline of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) (β coefficient, -0.239; P = 0.004), and incident dementia (HR = 3.54; 95%CI: 2.05-6.10).
- Within the cholinergic pathways, WMHs in corpus callosum and corona radiata were significantly related to incident dementia.
- Global WMHV was also associated with global cognitive decline (β coefficient, -0.049; P = 0.002).
- However, greater global WMHV only slightly increased the risk of incident dementia (HR = 1.23; 95%CI: 1.11-1.35).
- Neither global nor cholinergic WMHV was associated with MMSE in cross-sectional analysis.
Why it matters
In this cohort, greater white matter hyperintensity volume in cholinergic pathways was linked to faster cognitive decline and higher risk of incident dementia. This highlights a potential indicator of cognitive deterioration but does not test any treatment.
Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Participants751
- Effect sizeHR = 3.54; HR = 1.23
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 49/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (BMC Geriatrics) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | BMC Geriatrics: journal h-index 153 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 751 participants |
| Effect reported | 3 / 3 | Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Mei Cui: h-index 40 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Fudan University: institution h-index 954 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41073903) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 49 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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