Abstract
Lacunar infarction, leukoaraiosis, etat crible and cerebral atrophy increase in incidence and severity with age. They are believed to be essentially "asymptomatic", when observed in aged subjects, who are free of serious neurological symptoms. To assess the influences of these cerebral lesions on cognitive functions in the aged subjects, we evaluated MRI findings and the Hamamatsu psychological battery for higher cerebral function. Out of 127 participants in the present study, 42(33.1%)showed mild to severe impaired cognitive function. Leukoaraiosis(β=0.267, p=0.014)and cerebral atrophy(β=0.182, p=0.038)correlated well with the impairment, whereas lacunar infarction and etat crible seemed to have no effects on cognitive function. Adequate control of risk factors for leukoaraiosis and cerebral atrophy might prevent cognitive impairment.
