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Progressive structural alterations in the cerebral small vessel disease with cognitive impairment and vascular dementia
Yingqi Lu, Yushuang Liu, Xiaomei Zhou, Huixing Wu, Yang Zhou, Li‐Yu Hu, Haoran Zhang, Yuan Long et al.. Journal of Alzheimer s Disease, 2025-09-03
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
BackgroundThe progression of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) leads to cognitive decline, which can be categorized into subcortical vascular mild cognitive impairment (svMCI) and vascular dementia (VaD).ObjectiveThis research aimed to examine the structural changes in gray (GM) and white matter (WM) in the brain across the disease spectrum.MethodsA total of 30 healthy controls (HC), 26 individuals with svMCI, and 29 individuals with VaD were included in study. All participants underwent MRI scans and clinical evaluations. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM), voxel-based analysis of diffusion tensor imaging (VBA-DTI), and fixel-based analysis (FBA) were utilized to examine progressive structural changes, with correlation analyses conducted to explore their relationship with clinical measures.ResultsVBM analysis revealed progressive GM atrophy in right dorsal cingulate gyrus, and right hippocampus in svMCI and VaD compared to HC. VBA-DTI results demonstrated alterations in fractional anisotropy (FA) values in the inferior longitudinal fasciculus, along with changes in mean diffusivity (MD) values in the inferior longitudinal fasciculus. FBA results identified significant WM alterations in superior corona radiata, and posterior corona radiata. As disease progressed, those with VaD showed more severe cognitive impairments and more pronounced changes in GM and WM of various brain regions. The correlation results indicated that structural changes in GM and WM, identified through VBM, FA, and MD analyses, were significantly associated with severity of cognitive and motor deficits.ConclusionsOur study reveals notable alterations in GM and WM in brains of individuals with cognitive impairments associated with svMCI and VaD. These results provide a foundation for clinical observation of CSVD-related alterations and offer strong support for further in-depth exploration of neuropathological changes.Clinical Trial RegistrationChiCTR2400093373.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Lu, Y., Liu, Y., Zhou, X., Wu, H., Zhou, Y., Hu, L., et al. (2025). Progressive structural alterations in the cerebral small vessel disease with cognitive impairment and vascular dementia. Journal of Alzheimer s Disease. https://doi.org/10.1177/13872877251372953
Vancouver
Lu Y, Liu Y, Zhou X, Wu H, Zhou Y, Hu L, et al. Progressive structural alterations in the cerebral small vessel disease with cognitive impairment and vascular dementia. Journal of Alzheimer s Disease. 2025. doi:10.1177/13872877251372953. PMID: 40899970.
BibTeX
@article{lu2025-40899970,
author = {Lu, Yingqi and Liu, Yushuang and Zhou, Xiaomei and Wu, Huixing and Zhou, Yang and Hu, Li‐Yu and Zhang, Haoran and Long, Yuan and others},
title = {{Progressive structural alterations in the cerebral small vessel disease with cognitive impairment and vascular dementia}},
journal = {Journal of Alzheimer s Disease},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1177/13872877251372953},
pmid = {40899970},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/13872877251372953}
}
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Key findings
- Voxel-based morphometry (VBM), voxel-based analysis of diffusion tensor imaging (VBA-DTI), and fixel-based analysis (FBA) were utilized to examine progressive structural changes, with correlation analyses conducted to explore their relationship with clinical measures.ResultsVBM analysis revealed progressive GM atrophy in right dorsal cingulate gyrus, and right hippocampus in svMCI and VaD compared to HC.
- VBA-DTI results demonstrated alterations in fractional anisotropy (FA) values in the inferior longitudinal fasciculus, along with changes in mean diffusivity (MD) values in the inferior longitudinal fasciculus.
- FBA results identified significant WM alterations in superior corona radiata, and posterior corona radiata.
- The correlation results indicated that structural changes in GM and WM, identified through VBM, FA, and MD analyses, were significantly associated with severity of cognitive and motor deficits.ConclusionsOur study reveals notable alterations in GM and WM in brains of individuals with cognitive impairments associated with svMCI and VaD.
- These results provide a foundation for clinical observation of CSVD-related alterations and offer strong support for further in-depth exploration of neuropathological changes.Clinical Trial RegistrationChiCTR2400093373.
Why it matters
In a small sample of 30 healthy controls, 26 people with subcortical vascular mild cognitive impairment and 29 with vascular dementia, more severe disease was linked to more gray and white matter changes. This is a small observational study and does not test any treatment or prevention.
Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Participants26
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 49/100
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 (Journal of Alzheimer s Disease) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of Alzheimer s Disease: journal h-index 218 (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 | 1 / 4 | 26 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 4 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.3× 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 4 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Shangjie Chen: h-index 13 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Chinese Academy of Sciences: institution h-index 1,801 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 7 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40899970) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 49 / 100 | — |
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