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Vascular subcortical hyperintensities predict conversion to vascular and mixed dementia in MCI patients
Bombois S, Debette S, Bruandet A, Delbeuck X, Delmaire C, Leys D, Pasquier F.. Stroke, 2008-04-24
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Background and purpose Patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have an increased risk of dementia. The identification of predictors of conversion to dementia is therefore important. The aim of our study was to test the hypothesis that subcortical hyperintensities (SH) are associated with an increased rate of conversion to dementia in MCI patients. Methods This was an observational study on consecutive MCI patients attending a memory clinic. We assessed SH on a baseline MRI scan, using a semiquantitative rating scale. A multivariable Cox regression model was used to test the association of SH with conversion to dementia. Results We included 170 MCI patients. The median duration of follow-up was 3.8 years. During this period, 67 patients (39.4%, 95% CI: 32.1 to 46.8%) developed dementia: Alzheimer disease (AD) in 29 patients, dementia with Lewy bodies in 19, mixed dementia in 8, vascular dementia in 7, fronto-temporal dementia in 2, and primary progressive aphasia in 2. SH were not associated with the risk to develop dementia as a whole, including AD. However, the risk to develop vascular or mixed dementia increased significantly with increasing amounts of SH at baseline (HR=1.14 [95% CI: 1.06 to 1.24]), especially periventricular hyperintensities (HR=2.71 [95% CI: 1.60 to 4.58]), independently of medial temporal lobe atrophy, age, gender, vascular risk factors, education, and cognitive functions at baseline. Conclusions The risk of vascular or mixed dementia, but not of other types of dementia, was significantly increased in MCI patients with a large amount of subcortical hyperintensities at baseline.
Key findings
- Background and purpose Patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have an increased risk of dementia.
- The aim of our study was to test the hypothesis that subcortical hyperintensities (SH) are associated with an increased rate of conversion to dementia in MCI patients.
- SH were not associated with the risk to develop dementia as a whole, including AD.
- However, the risk to develop vascular or mixed dementia increased significantly with increasing amounts of SH at baseline (HR=1.14 [95% CI: 1.06 to 1.24]), especially periventricular hyperintensities (HR=2.71 [95% CI: 1.60 to 4.58]), independently of medial temporal lobe atrophy, age, gender, vascular risk factors, education, and cognitive functions at baseline.
- Conclusions The risk of vascular or mixed dementia, but not of other types of dementia, was significantly increased in MCI patients with a large amount of subcortical hyperintensities at baseline.
Why it matters
In this study of 170 people with mild cognitive impairment, subcortical hyperintensities on MRI were not associated with developing dementia as a whole, including Alzheimer's disease. They were linked only to a higher risk of vascular or mixed dementia, so this does not support a way to prevent or treat Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Participants170
- Effect size39.4%; 46.8%; HR=1.14
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 53/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Stroke) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Stroke: journal h-index 455 (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 | 2008 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 170 participants |
| Effect reported | 3 / 3 | Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar) |
| 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 | 5 / 7 | Cited 100 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 5.0 citations a year over 20 year(s) since 2008 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 11 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 9 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Florence Pasquier: h-index 101 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Inserm: institution h-index 1,988 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 18436882) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 53 / 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 7 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
Bombois, S., Debette, S., Bruandet, A., Delbeuck, X., Delmaire, C., Leys, D., et al. (2008). Vascular subcortical hyperintensities predict conversion to vascular and mixed dementia in MCI patients. Stroke. https://doi.org/10.1161/strokeaha.107.505206
Vancouver
Bombois S, Debette S, Bruandet A, Delbeuck X, Delmaire C, Leys D, et al. Vascular subcortical hyperintensities predict conversion to vascular and mixed dementia in MCI patients. Stroke. 2008. doi:10.1161/strokeaha.107.505206. PMID: 18436882.
BibTeX
@article{bombois2008-18436882,
author = {Bombois, S. and Debette, S. and Bruandet, A. and Delbeuck, X. and Delmaire, C. and Leys, D. and Pasquier, F.},
title = {{Vascular subcortical hyperintensities predict conversion to vascular and mixed dementia in MCI patients}},
journal = {Stroke},
year = {2008},
doi = {10.1161/strokeaha.107.505206},
pmid = {18436882},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1161/strokeaha.107.505206}
}
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