What can cause white matter hyperintensities?

Incident stroke Indeed, age and hypertension are the main predictors of white matter hyperintensities,69 70 and other vascular risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, and history of vascular disease were also shown to be associated with lesions in white matter.

What does extra white matter on the brain mean?

The presence of white matter hyperintensities has been correlated with a higher risk of stroke, which can lead to vascular dementia. White matter hyperintensities are often referred to as white matter disease. Initially, white matter disease was thought to simply be related to aging.

What is nonspecific white matter hyperintensities?

White matter hyperintensities (WMH) is a non-specific term that refers to white matter (WM) signal hyperintensity areas on T2 weighted MRI scans, and correlates with WM rarefaction (leucoaraiosis) as defined on CT scans. The main risk factors associated with development of WMH are older age and blood hypertension.

What is periventricular disease?

These white matter changes are also commonly referred to as periventricular white matter disease, or white matter hyperintensities (WMH), due to their bright white appearance on T2 MRI scans. Many patients can have leukoaraiosis without any associated clinical abnormality.

What is Binswanger disease?

Binswanger disease is a progressive neurological disorder caused by arteriosclerosis and thromboembolism affecting the blood vessels that supply the white-matter and deep structures of the brain (basal ganglia and thalamus).

Should I worry about white matter hyperintensities?

The presence of white matter hyperintensities may increase the risk that an individual will develop mild cognitive impairment or have declining performances on cognitive tests but may not be enough to facilitate progression from mild cognitive impairment to dementia, the latter being overwhelmingly driven by …

How many brain lesions are normal?

An “average” number of lesions on the initial brain MRI is between 10 and 15. However, even a few lesions are considered significant because even this small number of spots allows us to predict a diagnosis of MS and start treatment.

Can you reverse white matter disease?

White matter disease doesn’t have a cure, but there are treatments that can help manage your symptoms. The primary treatment is physical therapy. Physical therapy can help with any balance and walking difficulties you may develop.

Can you stop white matter disease?

Treatments: While there is no known cure for white matter disease, treatments can help to manage the symptoms. Controlling the risk factors associated with heart disease can help decrease the progression of the disease.

Is leukoaraiosis normal?

According to a study by Mayo Clinic, published in Radiology, a common condition called leukoaraiosis, made up of tiny areas in the brain that have been deprived of oxygen and appear as bright white dots on MRI scans, is not a harmless part of the aging process; it is a disease that changes the function of the brain in …