The Role of Disturbed Small-World Networks in Patients with White Matter Lesions and Cognitive Impairment Revealed by Resting State Function Magnetic Resonance Images (rs-fMRI)

Background Leukoaraiosis is characterized by white matter lesions (WMLs) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and is associated with cognitive impairment. The small-world network is viewed as the optimal brain network with maximal efficiency in information processing. Patients with cognitive impairment are thought to have disrupted small-world networks. In this study, we compared the small-world network attributes between controls (study participants without memory complaints) and patients with WMLs with cognitive impairment.