Home › Research › Vascular contributions
Impact of regional white matter hyperintensity patterns on cognitive trajectories in NACC
Lindsay J. Rotblatt, Lauren Edwards, Fareshte R. Erani, Caitlin Marie Terao, Katherine J. Bangen, Kelsey R. Thomas. Alzheimer s & Dementia, 2025-10-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Five WMH clusters emerged. Compared to those with low WMH burden, participants in the mild occipital and high parieto-occipital clusters had faster memory decline; mild fronto-parietal and high parieto-occipital clusters showed faster executive decline; and mild and high fronto-parietal and high parieto-occipital clusters had faster language decline. Regional WMH distributions showed distinct trajectories. Posterior WMHs were most associated with memory decline, while even mild WMHs accelerated decline in some domains. HIGHLIGHTS: Hierarchical cluster analysis identified five white matter hyperintensity (WMH) patterns. Posterior WMHs were most related to memory decline. Mild frontal and elevated posterior patterns were associated with executive function decline. Multiple WMH patterns were associated with language decline.
Key findings
- Compared to those with low WMH burden, participants in the mild occipital and high parieto-occipital clusters had faster memory decline; mild fronto-parietal and high parieto-occipital clusters showed faster executive decline; and mild and high fronto-parietal and high parieto-occipital clusters had faster language decline.
- Regional WMH distributions showed distinct trajectories.
- Posterior WMHs were most associated with memory decline, while even mild WMHs accelerated decline in some domains.
- HIGHLIGHTS: Hierarchical cluster analysis identified five white matter hyperintensity (WMH) patterns.
- Posterior WMHs were most related to memory decline.
Why it matters
In this longitudinal study, five patterns of white matter hyperintensity distribution were identified, and several patterns were associated with faster decline in memory, executive function, or language. Posterior white matter hyperintensities were most associated with memory decline, and even mild white matter hyperintensities accelerated decline in some domains, but the study does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention.
Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Participants1,047
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 50/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Alzheimer s & Dementia) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Alzheimer s & Dementia: journal h-index 228 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A longitudinal study following the same people over 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 | 3 / 4 | 1,047 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 | 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 Kelsey R. Thomas: h-index 29 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of California San Diego: institution h-index 1,852 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41104612) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 50 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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
Rotblatt, L. J., Edwards, L., Erani, F. R., Terao, C. M., Bangen, K. J., & Thomas, K. R. (2025). Impact of regional white matter hyperintensity patterns on cognitive trajectories in NACC. Alzheimer s & Dementia. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70764
Vancouver
Rotblatt LJ, Edwards L, Erani FR, Terao CM, Bangen KJ, Thomas KR. Impact of regional white matter hyperintensity patterns on cognitive trajectories in NACC. Alzheimer s & Dementia. 2025. doi:10.1002/alz.70764. PMID: 41104612.
BibTeX
@article{rotblatt2025-41104612,
author = {Rotblatt, Lindsay J. and Edwards, Lauren and Erani, Fareshte R. and Terao, Caitlin Marie and Bangen, Katherine J. and Thomas, Kelsey R.},
title = {{Impact of regional white matter hyperintensity patterns on cognitive trajectories in NACC}},
journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1002/alz.70764},
pmid = {41104612},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70764}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here. Showing 12 of 13.
Related studies in Vascular contributions
Also tagged “cerebral”
900 studies in the library carry the topic tag “cerebral”; these are this study's neighbours in a fixed, alphabetical-by-hash tour of them, not the closest in content. All 900 tagged studies.