Analysis of Causative Factors and Effects to Cognitive Functions of Cerebral White Matter Changes

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 19(5); 2001 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 2001;19(5): 471-477.

인지 기능에 미치는 대뇌 백질 변성의 영향 및 원인분석

손은희, 이애영 유성동 권도형 김태우 김재문

충남대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실

Analysis of Causative Factors and Effects to Cognitive Functions of Cerebral White Matter Changes

"Eun-Hee Sohn, M.D., Ae-Young Lee, M.D., Sung-Dong Yu, M.D., Do-Hyung Kwon, M.D., Tae-Woo Kim, M.D., Jae-Moon Kim, M.D."

Department of Neurology, Chungnam National University College of Medicine

Abstract

"Background : The aim of this study was to identify causative factors for cerebral white matter changes on MRI and relationship between cerebral white matter changes and cognitive function. Methods : The patients who were admitted to the Department of Neurology ward or visited to outpatient clinic at the Chungnam National University Hospital from September 1999 to July 2000 were selected. All patients underwent brain MRI with 1.5 T for determination of degree and distribution of cerebral white matter changes. The patients were evaluated their cognitive function with the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MS), which has more extensive and detailed tool for fluency and memory domains of cognition compared with the MMSE. Statistical analyses were per-formed to identify whether there was difference in causative factors and cognitive status between patients with white mat-ter change and patients without white matter changes. Results : White matter changes were significantly more common in patients with hypertension and women. On correlation analyses, hypertension and aging were significantly related with cerebral white matter changes. General cognitive status in patients with white matter changes were worse than those of patients without white matter changes and of control group. Frontal lobe functions like fluency, attention, and visuo-con-structive function were especially affected by white matter changes on the 3MS. Conclusi ons : Hypertension, female sex and aging may contribute to the development of cerebral white matter changes. Cerebral white matter changes may be responsible for the general cognitive decline. J Korean Neurol Assoc 19(5):471~477, 2001 Key Words : White matter change, Cognitive function, Modified Mini-Mental State Examination"