Cognitive impairment before intracerebral hemorrhage is associated with cerebral amyloid angiopathy

Banerjee, G. et al. (2018) Cognitive impairment before intracerebral hemorrhage is associated with cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Stroke, 49(1), pp. 40-45. (doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.117.019409) (PMID:29247143) (PMCID:PMC5753815)

Abstract

Background and Purpose—Although the association between cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) and cognitive impairment is increasingly recognized, it is not clear whether this is because of the impact of recurrent intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) events, disruptions caused by cerebral small vessel damage, or both. We investigated this by considering whether cognitive impairment before ICH was associated with neuroimaging features of CAA on magnetic resonance imaging. Methods—We studied 166 patients with neuroimaging-confirmed ICH recruited to a prospective multicentre observational study. Preexisting cognitive impairment was determined using the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE). Magnetic resonance imaging markers of cerebral small vessel disease, including CAA, were rated by trained observers according to consensus guidelines. Results—The prevalence of cognitive impairment before ICH was 24.7% (n=41) and, in adjusted analyses, was associated with fulfilling the modified Boston criteria for probable CAA at presentation (odds ratio, 4.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.53–10.51; P=0.005) and a higher composite CAA score (for each point increase, odds ratio, 1.42; 95% confidence interval, 1.03–1.97; P=0.033). We also found independent associations between pre-ICH cognitive decline and the presence of cortical superficial siderosis, strictly lobar microbleeds, and lobar ICH location, but not with other neuroimaging markers, or a composite small vessel disease score. Conclusions—CAA (defined using magnetic resonance imaging markers) is associated with cognitive decline before symptomatic ICH. This provides evidence that small vessel disruption in CAA makes an independent contribution to cognitive impairment, in addition to effects due to brain injury caused directly by ICH.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Muir, Professor Keith
• Authors: Banerjee, G., Wilson, D., Ambler, G., Osei-Bonsu Appiah, K., Shakeshaft, C., Lunawat, S., Cohen, H., Habil, T. Y. D. M., Lip, G. L.H., Muir, K. W., Brown, M. M., Salman, R. A.-S., Jäger, H. R., and Werring, D. J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Journal Name: Stroke
• Publisher: American Heart Association
• ISSN: 0039-2499
• ISSN (Online): 1524-4628
• Published Online: 15 December 2017
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2017 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Stroke 49(1):40-45
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License