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Medial temporal atrophy rather than white matter hyperintensities predict cognitive decline in stroke survivors
Firbank MJ, Burton EJ, Barber R, Stephens S, Kenny RA, Ballard C, Kalaria RN, O'Brien JT.. Neurobiology of aging, 2006-08-24
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Stroke is an important risk factor for dementia, but the exact mechanisms involved in cognitive decline remain unclear. In this study, we related baseline MRI brain measures with later cognitive decline. Seventy-nine stroke survivors aged 75+ years without dementia were recruited 3-month post-stroke. They underwent yearly neuropsychological assessments and had an MRI at baseline and 2 years. Medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA) was scored and volume of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) was measured at baseline. The rate of ventricular enlargement was measured by comparing the baseline and repeat images. Linear regression indicated that memory loss was related to both baseline memory and MTA (p=0.001; standardized regression coefficient beta=-0.35) but not WMH volume. The only independent predictor of ventricular enlargement was MTA (p=0.003; beta=0.47). However, no baseline MRI variable differed between those who did (18%) and did not (82%) develop dementia. The association of MTA but not WMH with subsequent cognitive decline and increasing brain atrophy suggests a greater role for Alzheimer type than vascular pathology in delayed cognitive impairment after stroke.
Key findings
- Linear regression indicated that memory loss was related to both baseline memory and MTA (p=0.001; standardized regression coefficient beta=-0.35) but not WMH volume.
Why it matters
In 79 stroke survivors without dementia, memory loss was related to baseline memory and medial temporal lobe atrophy but not white matter hyperintensity volume, and no baseline MRI measure differed between those who did and did not develop dementia. This suggests Alzheimer-type rather than vascular pathology may matter in delayed cognitive impairment after stroke, but it is not a treatment study.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 42/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Neurobiology of aging) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Neurobiology of Aging: journal h-index 263 (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 | 1 / 5 | 2007 — within 20 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 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 113 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 5.4 citations a year over 21 year(s) since 2007 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 5 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 11 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author John Tiernan O'Brien: h-index 140 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Newcastle University: institution h-index 932 (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 16934370) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 42 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
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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 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.
APA 7th
Firbank, M. J., Burton, E. J., Barber, R., Stephens, S., Kenny, R. A., Ballard, C., et al. (2007). Medial temporal atrophy rather than white matter hyperintensities predict cognitive decline in stroke survivors. Neurobiology of aging. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2006.07.009
Vancouver
Firbank MJ, Burton EJ, Barber R, Stephens S, Kenny RA, Ballard C, et al. Medial temporal atrophy rather than white matter hyperintensities predict cognitive decline in stroke survivors. Neurobiology of aging. 2007. doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2006.07.009. PMID: 16934370.
BibTeX
@article{firbank2007-16934370,
author = {Firbank, M. J. and Burton, E. J. and Barber, R. and Stephens, S. and Kenny, R. A. and Ballard, C. and Kalaria, R. N. and O'Brien, J. T.},
title = {{Medial temporal atrophy rather than white matter hyperintensities predict cognitive decline in stroke survivors}},
journal = {Neurobiology of aging},
year = {2007},
doi = {10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2006.07.009},
pmid = {16934370},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2006.07.009}
}
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