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Meta-Analysis
. 2014 Nov 7:20:2189-98.
doi: 10.12659/MSM.891004.

A meta-analysis of association between cerebral microbleeds and cognitive impairment

Rihan Wu  1 , Chao Feng  2 , Yanxin Zhao  1 , Ai-Ping Jin  1 , Min Fang  1 , Xueyuan Liu  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

A meta-analysis of association between cerebral microbleeds and cognitive impairment

Rihan Wu et al. Med Sci Monit. .

Abstract

Background: The clinical effect of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) on cognition has been receiving much research attention, but results are often inconsistent.

Material/methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and some Chinese electronic databases. A total of 15 studies were included.

Results: Patients with CMBs had higher incidence of cognitive dysfunction (OR 3.14; 95% CI 1.66-5.92) and lower scores of cognitive function (SMD was -0.36 [-0.55, -0.18] in the MMSE group and -0.65 [-0.99, -0.32] in the MoCA [Montreal Cognitive Assessment] group). The results also indicated that a higher number of CMB lesions led to more severe cognitive dysfunction (SMD was -2.41 [-5.04, -0.21] in the mild group and -2.75 [-3.50, -2.01] in the severe group). We also found that cognitive performance was significantly impaired when CMBs were located in deep (-0.4 [-0.69, -0.11]), lobar regions (-0.50 [-0.92, -0.09]), basal ganglia (-0.72 [-1.03, -0.41]), and thalamus brain regions (-0.65 [-0.98, -0.32]).

Conclusions: This meta-analysis showed that CMBs were associated with cognitive dysfunction according to higher number and different locations of CMBs. Future work should focus on long-term prognosis of continuing cognitive decline and specific treatments to reduce the formation of CMBs.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram of search strategy and study selection.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Funnel plots demonstrating that the heterogeneity was not due to publication bias. (A) Incidence of cognitive impairment in CMBs versus non-CMBs patients. (B) Cognitive assessment score of CMBs versus non-CMBs patients.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Meta-analysis of incidence of cognitive impairment in CMBs versus non-CMBs.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Meta-analysis of cognitive assessment score in CMBs versus non-CMBs based on MMSE and MoCA.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Meta-analysis of number of CMBs effecting the cognitive impairment.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Meta-analysis of cognitive assessment score based on different locations of CMBs.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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