Affective status in cerebral small vessel disease
Introduction. Cerebral small vessel disease is a neurological condition characterized by motor, cognitive and affective disorders, often found on brain magnetic resonance imaging scans in patients with vascular risk factors. Affective disorders may have a major impact on patients? quality of life, although they are often ignored as an entity in cerebrovascular pathology. Material and Methods. This prospective study included 80 patients with the diagnosis of cerebral small vessel disease admitted at the Clinic of Neurology, Clinical Center of Serbia in the period from January 1, 2017 to January 1, 2019. Baseline demographic data and brain magnetic resonance findings were obtained along with the results of cognitive function and affective status tests. Data were analyzed using standard statistical tests. Results. Standard screening tests revealed that 51.25% and 33.75% of our patients with cerebral small vessel disease suffer from apathy and depression, respectively. A significant correlation was found between the severity of white matter changes on magnetic resonance scans and apathy (p = 0.0092). Additionally, white matter changes were also significantly associated with depression (p = 0.021). Conclusion. Affective disorders are not uncommon in cerebral small vessel disease and apathy was the leading phenomenon among our patients. Since a strong correlation was detected between affective disorders and severity of vascular changes on magnetic resonance scans, we may conclude that both apathy and depression are key features of an underlying brain injury, rather than just comorbidity.