Validating VasCog-2-WSO Criteria: Early MRI Detection of Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Mortality Risk in Stroke- and Dementia-Free Adults

Highlight

• The VasCog-2-WSO criteria identify MRI-based vascular cognitive impairment and dysfunction spectrum in adults without dementia or stroke.
• Neuroimaging markers detected early vascular brain injury even before cognitive symptoms manifest, facilitating preclinical diagnosis.
• Participants meeting preclinical VCID criteria show significantly higher 10-year cardiovascular risk scores and elevated mortality risk.
• A graded relationship exists between VCID severity on MRI and all-cause mortality over nearly a decade follow-up.

Study Background