Novel imaging technologies in the assessment of cerebral ageing and vascular dementia.

Abstract

Introduction of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has opened new possibilities for detecting age-related brain tissue changes. The majority of these abnormalities consists of hyperintense foci in the deep and subcortical white matter probably related to microvascular disturbances and of signal hyperintensities around the lateral ventricles. It has also been suggested that these abnormalities may contribute to the development of cognitive impairment. The correlation between age-related signal abnormalities on conventional MRI and neuropsychologic dysfunction is limited, however, and a threshold beyond which such a relation may come into existence has not yet been defined. Poor tissue character..