Executive dysfunction and left frontal white matter hyperintensities are correlated with neuropsychiatric symptoms in stroke patients with confluent white matter hyperintensities.

Background/aims: This study aimed to determine the clinical and neuroimaging correlates of the presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms in stroke patients with age-related confluent white matter hyperintensities (WMH).

Methods: The Neuropsychiatric Inventory was utilized to detect the presence of 12 symptoms. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify clinical and neuroimaging correlates of the presence of symptoms.

Results: Seventy-seven stroke patients (mean WMH volume: 39.5 cm(3)) were recruited. Thirty patients (39%) had ≥ 1 neuropsychiatric symptom. Poor executive function was associated with the presence of any symptoms and symptoms other than depression. More severe left frontal WMH was associated with depression.

Conclusion: Executive dysfunction and left frontal WMH are correlated with neuropsychiatric symptoms in these patients.