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Small vessel cerebrovascular disease in older adults

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 April 2012

Helen Slavin ,
Julie McManus  and
David J Stott
Helen Slavin
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine for the Elderly, Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride, Scotland
Julie McManus*
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine for the Elderly, Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow, Scotland
David J Stott
Affiliation:
Academic Section of Geriatric Medicine, University of Glasgow, Scotland
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Julie McManus, Consultant Physician in Medicine for the Elderly and Stroke, Mansionhouse Unit, 100 Mansionhouse Road, Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow G41 3DX. Email: julie.mcmanus@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
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Summary

‘Cerebral small vessel disease’ is common in older adults and is an important cause of morbidity, functional impairment and cognitive decline. Small vessel disease is a collective term used to describe a number of underlying pathological processes and neuroimaging findings, such as lacunar infarcts, white matter lesions and microhaemorrhages.

With readily available neuroimaging, diagnostic accuracy has improved; however, the management of small vessel disease and prevention of cognitive decline remains uncertain. Treatment of conventional vascular risk factors may be appropriate, but future research is required to provide definitive answers. We have conducted a comprehensive literature review of cerebral small vessel disease in older adults. This highlights the clinical sequelae and underlying pathological processes, whilst discussing novel diagnostic neuroimaging and therapeutic strategies.

Keywords

elderlyolder adultcerebral small vessel diseasecognitive impairmentdementianeuroimagingwhite matter hyperintensities
Type
Clinical geriatrics
Information
Reviews in Clinical Gerontology , Volume 22 , Issue 3 , August 2012 , pp. 184 - 194
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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