Periventricular lesions in the white matter on magnetic resonance imaging in the elderly. A morphometric correlation with arteriolosclerosis and dilated perivascular spaces

摘要: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed postmortem on the brains of 40 patients aged over 60 yrs who had died from causes other than brain disease. Periventricular lesions increased signal intensity T2-weighted images, graded as moderate or severe, were found in 10% age group between and 69 yrs, 50% 80 89 yrs. Macroscopic microscopic whole-brain sections studied 19 specimens (8 with normal white matter, 4 7 severe matter MRI). The presence absence periventricular MRI correlated well severity demyelination astrocytic gliosis. Demyelination always associated an ratio wall thickness external diameter arterioles (up to 150 microns). A variable degree axonal loss Bodian-stained present all demyelination. Dilated perivascular spaces morphometrically 9 specimens; their strongly corrected weight, but incompletely arteriolosclerosis. Our findings suggest that arteriolosclerosis is primary factor pathogenesis diffuse elderly. This soon followed by axons, only later dilatation spaces.