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Longitudinal Cognitive Changes in Cerebral Small Vessel Disease
Angela C.C. Jochems, Susana Muñoz Maniega, Úna Clancy, Carmen Arteaga, Daniela Jaime García, Francesca M. Chappell, Olivia KL Hamilton, Ellen V. Backhouse et al.. Neurology, 2025-02-03
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
One hundred ninety-eight of 229 participants had WMH volumes available at both time-points. At baseline, the mean age was 67.5 years (SD = 10.9), with 33% female. Mean net WMH volume change per quintile was Q1 -1.79 mL (SD = 1.54), Q2 -0.27 mL (0.20), Q3 0.35 mL (0.18), Q4 1.43 mL (0.48), and Q5 5.31 mL (3.07). MoCA deteriorated the most in participants with most WMH progression (Q5) (estimated β -0.428 [95% CI -0.750 to -0.106]), compared with stable WMH (Q3), with no clear deterioration in those with most WMH regression (Q1). TMT B/A ratio improved in participants with most WMH regression (Q1; -0.385 [-0.758 to -0.012]). WMH regression was associated with preserved global cognition and improved executive function, compared with stable WMH, while WMH progression was associated with global cognitive decline. Cognitive benefits of WMH regression suggest that WMH-affected tissue can recover, may explain variance in cognitive outcomes, offer an important intervention target, and should be assessed in other populations and longer follow-up times.
Key findings
- One hundred ninety-eight of 229 participants had WMH volumes available at both time-points.
- At baseline, the mean age was 67.5 years (SD = 10.9), with 33% female.
- Mean net WMH volume change per quintile was Q1 -1.79 mL (SD = 1.54), Q2 -0.27 mL (0.20), Q3 0.35 mL (0.18), Q4 1.43 mL (0.48), and Q5 5.31 mL (3.07).
- MoCA deteriorated the most in participants with most WMH progression (Q5) (estimated β -0.428 [95% CI -0.750 to -0.106]), compared with stable WMH (Q3), with no clear deterioration in those with most WMH regression (Q1).
- TMT B/A ratio improved in participants with most WMH regression (Q1; -0.385 [-0.758 to -0.012]).
Why it matters
In this longitudinal study of 198 participants, greater progression of white matter hyperintensities was linked to global cognitive decline, while regression of these lesions was associated with preserved global cognition and improved executive function. The authors suggest that white matter hyperintensity-affected tissue can recover and could be an intervention target, but this is an observational finding that needs assessment in other populations and longer follow-up.
Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Participants229
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 67/100
Published in a leading specialty 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 | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Neurology: journal h-index 525 (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 | 2 / 4 | 229 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 | 3 / 7 | Cited 32 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 10.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 18.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 32 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Joanna Marguerite Wardlaw: h-index 150 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Glasgow: institution h-index 1,600 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 39899790) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 67 / 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. 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
Jochems, A. C., Maniega, S. M., Clancy, Ú., Arteaga, C., García, D. J., Chappell, F. M., et al. (2025). Longitudinal Cognitive Changes in Cerebral Small Vessel Disease. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000213323
Vancouver
Jochems AC, Maniega SM, Clancy Ú, Arteaga C, García DJ, Chappell FM, et al. Longitudinal Cognitive Changes in Cerebral Small Vessel Disease. Neurology. 2025. doi:10.1212/wnl.0000000000213323. PMID: 39899790.
BibTeX
@article{jochems2025-39899790,
author = {Jochems, Angela C.C. and Maniega, Susana Muñoz and Clancy, Úna and Arteaga, Carmen and García, Daniela Jaime and Chappell, Francesca M. and Hamilton, Olivia KL and Backhouse, Ellen V. and others},
title = {{Longitudinal Cognitive Changes in Cerebral Small Vessel Disease}},
journal = {Neurology},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1212/wnl.0000000000213323},
pmid = {39899790},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000213323}
}
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