MR IMAGING OF THE AGING BRAIN - PATCHY WHITE-MATTER LESIONS AND DEMENTIA

Abstract

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging studies of the brain in 5 elderly patients with non-Alzheimer dementia were compared with those in 2 groups of nondemented control subjects. Group 1 included 5 subjects aged 59-66 yr; group 2 included 9 subjects aged 74-81 yr. In all of the demented patients and 3 of the subjects in the older control group, MR showed diffuse, patchy white-matter lesions. A rating scale was used to grade the severity of the changes. The results suggest a higher incidence of white-matter lesions in elderly patients with non-Alzheimer dementia and cognitively normal elderly with advancing age.