Modelling Small Vessel Disease Using Regional MRI Markers, and Mediating Effects on Cognitive Decline
Authors: Charisis Sokratis , Rashid Tanweer , Dintica Christina S. , Gonzales Mitzi M. , Liu Hangfan , Ware Jeffrey B. , Austin Thomas R. , Jensen Paul N. , Fohner Alison E , Tanley Jordan E. , Ding Jingzhong , Luchsinger José A. , Sachs Bonnie C. , Nasrallah Ilya M. , Bryan R Nick , Hayden Kathleen M. , Wolk David A , Rascovsky Katya , Davatzikos Christos , Longstreth W.T. , Yaffe Kristine , Seshadri Sudha , Heckbert Susan R. , Hughes Timothy M. , Habes Mohamad 
Published: January 2025

Background

The location of proposed brain MRI markers of small vessel disease (SVD) might reflect their pathogenesis and may translate into differential associations with cognition. We derived regional MRI markers of SVD and studied: (i) associations with cognitive performance, (ii) patterns most likely to reflect underlying SVD, (iii) mediating effects on the relationships of age and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk with cognition.

Method

In 891 participants from The Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, we segmented enlarged perivascular spaces (ePVS), white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and microbleeds (MBs) using deep learning‐based algorithms, and calculated white matter (WM) microstructural integrity measures of fractional anisotropy (FA), trace (TR) and free water (FW) using automated DTI‐processing pipelines. Measures of global and domain‐specific cognitive performance were derived from a comprehensive cognitive evaluation based on the UDS v3 neuropsychological battery.

Result

Mean (SD) age was 73.6 (7.9) years; 474 (53%) participants were women. In generalized linear models adjusted for demographics, vascular risk factors, and APOE ε4 carriership, higher basal ganglia ePVS count was associated with worse global, language, and attention cognitive performance (Table 1). Higher periventricular WMH volume was associated with worse global, delayed memory, language, phonemic, and attention performance. Higher WM FA was associated with better global, delayed memory, language, and attention performance. Higher WM TR was associated with worse global, delayed memory, language, phonemic, and attention performance. Exploratory factor analysis revealed that basal ganglia ePVS (standardized loading = 0.51), thalamus ePVS (0.43), periventricular WMH (0.85), subcortical WMH (0.65), and WM FA (‐0.73) and TR (0.84) loaded onto the same factor, likely reflecting underlying SVD. Structural equation models demonstrated that SVD mediated the effect of age on cognition (β[95%CI] = ‐0.071[‐0.088,‐0.053]) through the pathways: Age→SVD→Cognition (‐0.044[‐0.063,‐0.026]) and Age→SVD→Brain Atrophy→Cognition (‐0.006[‐0.012,‐0.002]) – Figure 1, and the effect of CVD risk on cognition (‐0.028[‐0.044,‐0.012]) through the pathways: CVD Risk→SVD→Cognition (‐0.021[‐0.031,‐0.013]) and CVD Risk→SVD→Brain Atrophy→Cognition (‐0.007[‐0.012,‐0.003]) – Figure 2.

Conclusion

The location of the proposed MRI markers of SVD likely reflects distinct etiopathogenic substrates and should be considered when examining associations with cognitive or other health‐related outcomes. SVD mediates the relationships of age and CVD risk with cognition via both atrophy‐related and unrelated pathways.