# Increased Cerebral Vein Diameters Are Associated with Age and White Matter Hyperintensity

## TL;DR

This study finds that larger cerebral vein diameters are linked to aging and more severe white matter changes in the brain, which are associated with conditions like stroke and dementia.

## Contribution

The study establishes a correlation between cerebral vein diameters, age, and white matter hyperintensity severity using MRI data from 660 patients.

## Key findings

- Cerebral vein diameters increase with age and are larger in middle-aged and elderly groups compared to young individuals.
- Hypertension, diabetes, and other conditions are associated with increased cerebral vein diameters and higher white matter hyperintensity severity.
- Age shows a strong positive correlation with internal cerebral vein and anterior septal vein diameters.

## Abstract

Objective: White matter hyperintensity (WMH) is one of the most common and prominent changes seen in elderly individuals, especially on MRI. WMH is associated with serious conditions such as hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke, depression and dementia. Recently, the relationship between cerebral venous diameter and WMH was described. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the Fazekas scale, which evaluates the severity of WMH, and cerebral vein diameters, age and clinical outcomes analysis. Materials and Methods: MRI images of 660 patients were examined retrospectively. FLAIR and SWI (MiniP) images were used to evaluate WMH and cerebral vein diameters. Internal cerebral veins (ICV), thalamostriate veins (TSV), anterior septal veins (ASV) and superior sagittal sinus (SSS) diameters were measured. Cerebral vein diameters were compared with age, WMH, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, lacunar infarct and microhemorrhage presence. Results: In the presence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, lacunar infarction and microhemorrhage, Fazekas score, mean ICV-right, ICV-left, ASV-right, ASV-left, TSV-right and TSV-left values were significantly higher. The mean ICV-right, ICV-left, ASV-right, ASV-left, TSV-right and TSV-left values of the middle-aged and elderly groups were significantly higher than the young group. A strong positive correlation was observed between age and mean ICV-right, ICV-left, ASV-right and ASV-left values, while a moderate positive correlation was shown with TSV-right and TSV-left values. A weak negative correlation was determined with SSS values. Conclusions: Cerebral vein diameter increases with age and is associated with the severity of WMH. Clinicians can monitor cerebral vein diameter to predict the severity of WMH.