Intended for healthcare professionals

Rapid response to:

Research

Changes in white matter as determinant of global functional decline in older independent outpatients: three year follow-up of LADIS (leukoaraiosis and disability) study cohort

BMJ 2009; 339 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.b2477 (Published 06 July 2009) Cite this as: BMJ 2009;339:b2477

Rapid Response:

Leukoaraiosis and Cognitive Fundtion

The study from Inzitar, et.al (2009) showed that leukoaraiosis is an
independent risk factor for functional disability. Previous reports
showed that leukoaraiosis progresses over time. Progression of
leukoaraiosis relates to cognitive decline, but this association is
complex and modulated by other morphological factors like brain atrophy.
Leukoaraiosis has been inconsistently associated with cognitive
impairment, assorted motor dysfunctions, and gait disturbances. This new
evidence has suggested that leukoaraiosis may be clinically important.
Patients with leukoaraiosis have a poor prognosis in terms of death,
stroke, and myocardial infarction. Leukoaraiosis may be an independent and
strong predictor of dementia in stroke patients. The presence of
leukoaraiosis also increases the risk of intracranial bleeding in patients
with cerebrovascular diseases treated with anticoagulants. All of the
above-mentioned results will require clinicians to examine in greater
detail the status of the brain before deciding optimal preventive
measures.

Competing interests:
None declared

Competing interests: No competing interests

03 August 2009
Rizaldy Pinzon
Neurologist
Bethesda hospital Yogyakarta Indonesia 55224