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White matter lesions impair frontal lobe function regardless of their location
Tullberg M, Fletcher E, DeCarli C, Mungas D, Reed BR, Harvey DJ, Weiner MW, Chui HC et al.. Neurology, 2004-07-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Objective To analyze the effect of white matter lesions in different brain regions on regional cortical glucose metabolism, regional cortical atrophy, and cognitive function in a sample with a broad range of cerebrovascular disease and cognitive function. Methods Subjects (n = 78) were recruited for a study of subcortical ischemic vascular disease (SIVD) and Alzheimer disease (AD) contributions to dementia. A new method was developed to define volumes of interest from high-resolution three-dimensional T1-weighted MR images. Volumetric measures of MRI segmented white matter signal hyperintensities (WMH) in five different brain regions were related to regional PET glucose metabolism (rCMRglc) in cerebral cortex, MRI measures of regional cortical atrophy, and neuropsychological assessment of executive and memory function. Results WMH was significantly higher in the prefrontal region compared to the other brain regions. In all subjects, higher frontal and parietal WMH were associated with reduced frontal rCMRglc, whereas occipitotemporal WMH was only marginally associated with frontal rCMRglc. These associations were stronger and more widely distributed in nondemented subjects where reduced frontal rCMRglc was correlated with WMH for all regions measured. In contrast, there was no relationship between WMH in any brain region and rCMRglc in either parietal or occipitotemporal regions. WMHs in all brain regions were associated with low executive scores in nondemented subjects. Conclusions The frontal lobes are most severely affected by SIVD. WMHs are more abundant in the frontal region. Regardless of where in the brain these WMHs are located, they are associated with frontal hypometabolism and executive dysfunction.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Tullberg, M., Fletcher, E., DeCarli, C., Mungas, D., Reed, B. R., Harvey, D. J., et al. (2004). White matter lesions impair frontal lobe function regardless of their location. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000130530.55104.b5
Vancouver
Tullberg M, Fletcher E, DeCarli C, Mungas D, Reed BR, Harvey DJ, et al. White matter lesions impair frontal lobe function regardless of their location. Neurology. 2004. doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000130530.55104.b5. PMID: 15277616.
BibTeX
@article{tullberg2004-15277616,
author = {Tullberg, M. and Fletcher, E. and DeCarli, C. and Mungas, D. and Reed, B. R. and Harvey, D. J. and Weiner, M. W. and Chui, H. C. and others},
title = {{White matter lesions impair frontal lobe function regardless of their location}},
journal = {Neurology},
year = {2004},
doi = {10.1212/01.wnl.0000130530.55104.b5},
pmid = {15277616},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000130530.55104.b5}
}
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Key findings
- Results WMH was significantly higher in the prefrontal region compared to the other brain regions.
- In all subjects, higher frontal and parietal WMH were associated with reduced frontal rCMRglc, whereas occipitotemporal WMH was only marginally associated with frontal rCMRglc.
- WMHs in all brain regions were associated with low executive scores in nondemented subjects.
- Regardless of where in the brain these WMHs are located, they are associated with frontal hypometabolism and executive dysfunction.
Why it matters
In 78 subjects, white matter lesions in frontal and parietal regions were associated with reduced frontal glucose metabolism, and lesions in all brain regions were associated with low executive scores in nondemented subjects. Regardless of location, these lesions were associated with frontal hypometabolism and executive dysfunction.
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Study details
- Participants78
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 57/100
Published in a leading specialty journal. Scored zero for study design, 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 | 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 | 2004 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 78 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 | 6 / 7 | Cited 530 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 22.1 citations a year over 24 year(s) since 2004 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 16.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 25 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 34 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author William J. Jagust: h-index 152 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of California, San Francisco: institution h-index 1,915 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 15277616) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 57 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000130530.55104.b5
- PubMed: 15277616
- Original source →
- Free full text: PubMed Central →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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