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Characterization of White Matter Hyperintensities in Large-Scale MRI-Studies
Frey BM, Petersen M, Mayer C, Schulz M, Cheng B, Thomalla G.. Frontiers in neurology, 2019-03-26
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Our search resulted in the inclusion and full-text review of 137 articles. One hundred and thirty-four of them belonged to 37 prospective cohort studies. Median sample size was 1,030 with no increase over the covered years. Eighty studies investigated in the association of WMH and risk factors. Most of them focussed on arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II and Apo E genotype and inflammatory markers. Sixty-three studies analyzed the association of WMH and secondary conditions like cognitive decline, mood disorder and brain atrophy. Studies applied various methods based on manual (3), semi-automated (57), and automated segmentation techniques (75). Only 18% of the articles referred to an explicit definition of WMH. The review yielded a large number of studies engaged in WMH research. A remarkable variety of segmentation techniques was applied, and only a minority referred to a clear definition of WMH. Most addressed topics were risk factors and secondary clinical conditions. In conclusion, WMH research is a vivid field with a need for further standardization regarding definitions and used methods.
Key findings
- Our search resulted in the inclusion and full-text review of 137 articles.
- One hundred and thirty-four of them belonged to 37 prospective cohort studies.
- Median sample size was 1,030 with no increase over the covered years.
- Eighty studies investigated in the association of WMH and risk factors.
- Most of them focussed on arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II and Apo E genotype and inflammatory markers.
Why it matters
This review of 137 articles found wide variation in how white matter hyperintensities were segmented and that only a minority of studies gave a clear definition of them. It calls for standardization of definitions and methods and reports no treatment, cure, or prevention findings.
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Study details
- Study designsystematic review
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 59/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a systematic review of all the studies on the question. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported and studied in people because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Frontiers in neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Frontiers in Neurology: journal h-index 162 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A systematic review of all the studies on the question |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2019 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 95 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 10.6 citations a year over 9 year(s) since 2019 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 9.2× 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 | 2 / 4 | Cited 16 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Götz Thomalla: h-index 85 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf: institution h-index 736 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 30972001) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 59 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00238
- PubMed: 30972001
- Original source →
- Free full text: Frontiers in Neurology →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Frey, B. M., Petersen, M., Mayer, C., Schulz, M., Cheng, B., & Thomalla, G. (2019). Characterization of White Matter Hyperintensities in Large-Scale MRI-Studies. Frontiers in neurology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2019.00238
Vancouver
Frey BM, Petersen M, Mayer C, Schulz M, Cheng B, Thomalla G. Characterization of White Matter Hyperintensities in Large-Scale MRI-Studies. Frontiers in neurology. 2019. doi:10.3389/fneur.2019.00238. PMID: 30972001.
BibTeX
@article{frey2019-30972001,
author = {Frey, B. M. and Petersen, M. and Mayer, C. and Schulz, M. and Cheng, B. and Thomalla, G.},
title = {{Characterization of White Matter Hyperintensities in Large-Scale MRI-Studies}},
journal = {Frontiers in neurology},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.3389/fneur.2019.00238},
pmid = {30972001},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2019.00238}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here. Showing 12 of 23.