The association of white matter hyperintensities with motoric cognitive risk syndrome

BACKGROUND: The motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR) was characterized by slow gait and subjective cognitive complaints. MCR was associated with brain structural changes. However, the association between white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and MCR was unclear and the aim of this study was to examine this association. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study participants were 1227 older adults (mean age: 72.0 ± 6.0 yrs, women: 52.6%). We collected magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data to assess WMH. To assess MCR, data on gait speed and subjective cognitive complaints were collected. Demographical and medical data was collected as covariates. RESULTS: Among participants, the proportion of MCR was 5.0% (n = 61) and severe WMH was 16.8% (n = 206). From logistic regression analysis, severe WMH associated with MCR even when adjusted for covariates (odds ratio 2.18 [95% confidential interval 1.15-4.16], p = 0.017). This association was observed in subgroups stratified by the participants’ characteristics: higher age, not having fall history, not obesity, not being physical inactivity and not having depressive symptom. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings revealed that vascular pathophysiological changes in the brain were associated with MCR. The association was pronounced by several factors. Further evaluation was required to clarify pathophysiology of MCR.