Diagnostic categories of the study patients
| Category | Definition |
|---|---|
| I. VCI | All patients with suspected cognitive deficits and evidence of CVA on MRI |
| II. Subgroups of VCI | |
| 1. Multiple strokes | Stroke-like events with supportive evidence of one or more strokes on MRI. Lacunar infarcts in basal ganglia only |
| 2. Subcortical ischaemic vascular disease | Extensive white matter lesions with or without lacunar infarcts in the basal ganglia |
| 3. Hypoxic hypoperfusion | Large white matter lesions with evidence of severe hypotensive episode due to drugs or operative procedures |
| 4. Mixed AD/VCI | Memory loss greater than executive dysfunction with symmetric white matter lesions |
| III. Leukoaraiosis | White matter lesions without evidence of VCI |
AD, Alzheimer's disease; CVA, cerebrovascular accident; VCI, vascular cognitive impairment.