White matter lesion volume reduces fine motor skills: Is primary stroke prophylaxis warranted?

Neuroimaging, particularly cerebral MRI, frequently demonstrates white matter lesions (WMLs) in the elderly and patients with vascular risk factors such as arterial hypertension and diabetes. WMLs may result from ischemia associated with atherosclerosis of perforating arteries and arteriolar degeneration due to fibrohyalinosis.1,2 They can appear silently, but are an important risk factor for the development of stroke, mainly ischemic stroke.3 Moreover, WMLs are linked to the development of cognitive impairment and dementia.4,5

Source: Neurology - May 11, 2015 Category: Neurology Authors: Wartenberg, K. E., Lorenzano, S. Tags: Stroke prevention, All Cerebrovascular disease/Stroke, Vascular dementia, Prevalence studies, Risk factors in epidemiology EDITORIALS Source Type: research