Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41073903›Full record

ArticleBMC geriatrics2025

Associations of cholinergic white matter hyperintensity volume with cognitive decline and incident dementia in older adults: a cohort study.

Heyang Lu, Rui Li, Jialin Li, Kelin Xu, Yanfeng Jiang, Yingzhe Wang, Xingdong Chen, Mei Cui

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC geriatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Heyang LuDepartment of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, No.12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai, 200040, China.
Rui LiDepartment of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, No.12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai, 200040, China.
Jialin LiHuman Phenome Institute, Research and Innovation Center, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, Fudan University, Zhangheng Road 666, Shanghai, 200120, China.
Kelin XuDepartment of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Yanfeng JiangHuman Phenome Institute, Research and Innovation Center, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, Fudan University, Zhangheng Road 666, Shanghai, 200120, China.
Yingzhe WangDepartment of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, No.12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai, 200040, China. jnzhe@163.com.
Xingdong ChenHuman Phenome Institute, Research and Innovation Center, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, Fudan University, Zhangheng Road 666, Shanghai, 200120, China. xingdongchen@fudan.edu.cn.
Mei CuiDepartment of Neurology and National Center for Neurological Disorders, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. cuimei@fudan.edu.cn.

Funding

the Key Research and Development Plans of Jiangsu Province BE2021696the National Natural Science Foundation of China 81971013, 82001142, 82071197, 82271221the STI2030-Major Projects 2021ZD0201800, 2022ZD0211600
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFew studies take both the volume and location of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) into account to explore the association between WMH burden within the cholinergic pathways and cognitive impairment. We aimed to investigate associations of cholinergic WMH volume (WMHV) with global cognitive function, cognitive decline, and incident dementia in older adults, which may help us identify a potential imaging biomarker.

methodsWe assessed non-demented participants (n = 751, mean age 60 years) from the Taizhou Imaging Study with brain MRI at baseline and repeated measures of cognition over 5 years of follow-up. WMHV in the whole brain, the cholinergic pathways, and different tracts in the Montreal Neurologic Institute (MNI) standard space were analyzed. Linear regression, Cox regression, and partial correlation tests were performed to investigate associations between global and regional WMHV and cognitive outcomes.

resultsDuring follow-up, cholinergic WMHV was associated with an annual decline of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) (β coefficient, -0.239; P = 0.004), and incident dementia (HR = 3.54; 95%CI: 2.05-6.10). Within the cholinergic pathways, WMHs in corpus callosum and corona radiata were significantly related to incident dementia. Global WMHV was also associated with global cognitive decline (β coefficient, -0.049; P = 0.002). However, greater global WMHV only slightly increased the risk of incident dementia (HR = 1.23; 95%CI: 1.11-1.35). Neither global nor cholinergic WMHV was associated with MMSE in cross-sectional analysis.

conclusionsCholinergic WMHV is associated with longitudinal cognitive decline and incident dementia in older adults, which might result from disruption of corpus callosum and corona radiata. These findings highlight the value of cholinergic WMHV as a potential indicator of cognitive deterioration.

Indexed as

Cognitive DysfunctionDementiaWhite MatterAgedCohort StudiesFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansIncidenceMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMiddle AgedCholinergic degenerationCognitive dysfunctionNeuroimagingWhite matter hyperintensity

Identifiers

PMID41073903
PMCPMC12512280

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.