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Choroidal Vascular Volume, White Matter Hyperintensity, and Their Interaction With Cognitive Function in Aging Adults
Youjie Wang, Ruilin Wang, Hang Wang, Le Cao, Chen Ye, Junfeng Liu, Bo Wu, William Robert Kwapong et al.. Journal of the American Heart Association, 2025-06-11
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
A total of 197 participants were included in the study. Choroidal vascular volume and choroidal vascular index were inversely correlated with total and periventricular WMH volumes. Irregular WMH shape and reduced choroidal vascular volume were both associated with poorer memory performance. A significant interaction was found between choroidal perfusion and periventricular WMH shape on memory, suggesting that the relationship between WMH features and memory function may be more pronounced in individuals with lower choroidal perfusion. The severity of WMH and the status of choroidal perfusion may jointly reflect memory performance, suggesting ischemia as a potential shared mechanism. Future research is warranted to assess the clinical usefulness of WMH and choroidal metrics in predicting cognitive decline.
Key findings
- A total of 197 participants were included in the study.
- Choroidal vascular volume and choroidal vascular index were inversely correlated with total and periventricular WMH volumes.
- Irregular WMH shape and reduced choroidal vascular volume were both associated with poorer memory performance.
- A significant interaction was found between choroidal perfusion and periventricular WMH shape on memory, suggesting that the relationship between WMH features and memory function may be more pronounced in individuals with lower choroidal perfusion.
- The severity of WMH and the status of choroidal perfusion may jointly reflect memory performance, suggesting ischemia as a potential shared mechanism.
Why it matters
In 197 older adults, lower choroidal vascular volume was linked to more white matter hyperintensities, and both irregular white matter hyperintensity shape and reduced choroidal volume were linked to poorer memory. The authors suggest ischemia as a possible shared mechanism, but this is an observational study and does not test any treatment.
Study details
- Participants197
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 44/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of the American Heart Association) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of the American Heart Association: journal h-index 200 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” 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 | 197 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| 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 | 2 / 7 | Cited 5 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.2× 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 | 1 / 4 | Cited 5 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Wendan Tao: h-index 23 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Capital Medical University: institution h-index 643 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40497513) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 44 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1161/jaha.124.039369
- PubMed: 40497513
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of the American Heart Association →
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. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Wang, Y., Wang, R., Wang, H., Cao, L., Ye, C., Liu, J., et al. (2025). Choroidal Vascular Volume, White Matter Hyperintensity, and Their Interaction With Cognitive Function in Aging Adults. Journal of the American Heart Association. https://doi.org/10.1161/jaha.124.039369
Vancouver
Wang Y, Wang R, Wang H, Cao L, Ye C, Liu J, et al. Choroidal Vascular Volume, White Matter Hyperintensity, and Their Interaction With Cognitive Function in Aging Adults. Journal of the American Heart Association. 2025. doi:10.1161/jaha.124.039369. PMID: 40497513.
BibTeX
@article{wang2025-40497513,
author = {Wang, Youjie and Wang, Ruilin and Wang, Hang and Cao, Le and Ye, Chen and Liu, Junfeng and Wu, Bo and Kwapong, William Robert and others},
title = {{Choroidal Vascular Volume, White Matter Hyperintensity, and Their Interaction With Cognitive Function in Aging Adults}},
journal = {Journal of the American Heart Association},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1161/jaha.124.039369},
pmid = {40497513},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1161/jaha.124.039369}
}
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