Blood-brain barrier failure as a core mechanism in cerebral small vessel disease and dementia: evidence from a cohort study

Introduction: Small vessel disease (SVD) is a common contributor to dementia. Subtle blood-brain barrier (BBB) leakage may be important in SVD-induced brain damage.

Methods: We assessed imaging, clinical variables, and cognition in patients with mild (i.e., nondisabling) ischemic lacunar or cortical stroke. We analyzed BBB leakage, interstitial fluid, and white matter integrity using multimodal tissue-specific spatial analysis around white matter hyperintensities (WMH). We assessed predictors of 1 year cognition, recurrent stroke, and dependency.

Results: In 201 patients, median age 67 (range 34–97), BBB leakage, and interstitial fluid were higher in WMH than normal-appearing white matter; leakage in normal-appearing white matter increased with proximity to WMH (P < .0001), with WMH severity (P = .033), age (P = .03), and hypertension (P < .0001). BBB leakage in WMH predicted declining cognition at 1 year.

Discussion: BBB leakage increases in normal-appearing white matter with WMH and predicts worsening cognition. Interventions to reduce BBB leakage may prevent SVD-associated dementia.