Effects of different antiplatelet therapy regimens on cognitive function and brain imaging biomarkers in patients with cerebral small vessel disease
10.19405/j.cnki.issn1000–1492.2026.09.022
- VernacularTitle:不同抗血小板治疗方案对脑小血管病患者的认知功能及脑影像标志物的影响
- Author:
Zhixin WANG
1
;
Yuehua WANG
1
;
Jiajia QIN
1
;
Xiaohan SONG
1
;
Xia ZHOU
1
;
Xiaoqun ZHU
1
Author Information
1. Department of Neurology， The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University， Hefei 230022
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
cerebral small vessel disease;
antiplatelet aggregation;
cognitive function;
white matter hyperintensities;
cerebral microbleed
- From:
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui
2026;61(9):1679-1687
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of different antiplatelet therapy regimens （aspirin versus clopidogrel at specific doses） on cognitive function， blood biomarkers and brain imaging biomarkers when used prophylactically in patients with cerebral small vessel disease （CSVD）. MethodsA randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 160 CSVD patients who were randomly assigned to four groups： aspirin group （ASA）， low-dose clopidogrel group （CLOP-50）， standard-dose clopidogrel group （CLOP-75）， and control group （HC）. Cognitive function ［auditory verbal learning test-immediate recall （AVLT-IR）， auditory verbal learning test-short-delay recall （AVLT-SDR）， auditory verbal learning test-long-delay recall （AVLT-LDR）， hamilton anxiety rating scale （HAMA）， and hamilton depression rating scale （HAMD）， ADL（activities of daily living scale ）， （ascertain dementia 8-item questionnaire，AD8）］， blood biomarkers ［platelet count （PLT） and mean platelet volume （MPV）］， and CSVD-related imaging biomarkers ［white matter hyperintensities （WMH） and cerebral microbleeds （CMB）］ were assessed in all groups at baseline and at the 6-month follow-up. ResultsAfter 6 months of treatment， within-group comparisons showed that， compared with baseline， the ASA group had significantly increased scores on the AVLT immediate recall （AVLT-IR）， short-delay recall （AVLT-SDR）， and long-delay recall （AVLT-LDR） （P<0.05）. The CLOP-75 group showed significantly decreased HAMA and HAMD scores （P<0.05）， along with a significant increase in AVLT-LDR scores （P<0.05）. The number of CMBs increased from baseline in both the ASA and CLOP-75 groups （P<0.05）， whereas no statistically significant changes in blood biomarkers were observed in either group. By contrast， the CLOP-50 and HC groups showed no significant changes in cognitive function， blood biomarkers， or CSVD-related imaging biomarkers compared with baseline （all P<0.05）. Comparisons between groups showed that the AVLT-LDR scores and the number of CMBs increased faster in the ASA group than in the HC group （β=-0.187， P=0.04； β=-0.805， P<0.001）. In addition， the rate of CMB increase was also faster in the ASA group than in the CLOP-50 group （β=-0.695， P<0.01）. The ADL scores increased faster in the HC group than in the ASA group （β=0.170， P=0.02）. The AD8 scores decreased faster in the CLOP-75 group than in the HC group （β=-0.128， P=0.04）， but the rate of CMB increase in the CLOP-75 group was also faster than that in the HC group （β=0.604， P=0.04）. ConclusionIn CSVD patients， aspirin 100 mg or clopidogrel 75 mg improves cognitive function but increases the risk of cerebral hemorrhage. Clopidogrel 50 mg shows no short-term clinical benefit or imaging improvement.
