International Psychogeriatrics
Volume 15, Supplement 1 - 2003

White-Matter Changes on MRI as Surrogate Marker
PHILIP SCHELTENS, FREDERIK BARKHOF, AND FRANZ FAZEKAS

ABSTRACT. This article reviews the use of white-matter changes as identified on MRI as a 
surrogate marker in clinical trials on vascular dementia. As of yet, insufficient evidence is 
present to implement rating or volumetric assessment of the burden of white-matter changes as 
surrogate marker in such trials, in view of the limited sensitivity to change of current methods 
and the high measurement error.

KEYWORDS: Dementia; white matter; MRI; clinical trials; vascular; pH