Correlative factors of cognitive impairment in patients with lacunar infarcts

Objective To study the relationships between cognitive impairment in patients with lacunar infarcts and quantitative CT measures and to determine the independent correlative factors of cognitive impairment.Methods Neuropsychological examination was conducted for 128 patients with acute lacunar infarct.Number,location,and volume of infarcts,cerebral atrophy index and severity of white matter lesions(WMLs) were measured and recorded.Results The number of lacunar infarcts in cognitive impairment (CI) group was significantly larger than that in cognitive normal(CN) group.Mean width of sulcus and sylvian fissure,index of frontal horn and ventricular-brain ratio(VBR) were significantly different in both groups.There were more patients with 3 grades or 4 grades WMLs in CI group(62%) than those in CN group(22%).The total volume of lacunar infarcts showed no statistically significant difference.Logistic regression analysis indicated that the number of lacunar infarcts in frontal subcortex and thalamus,the volume of infarcts in anterior periventricular white matter,width of cerebral sulcus and sylvian fissure were correlated with cognitive impairment respectively.Additionally,age and education were correlative factors of cognitive impairment in patients with lacunar infarct.Conclusion Correlative factors of cognitive impairment in patients with lacunar infarct are not merely one feature,but a combination of infarct features(number,location,and volume),cortical atrophy and host factors(age and education).