The clinical manifestations and pathophysiology of cerebral small vessel disease

Small vessel disease (SVD) is responsible for brain chronic circular disorder, and accounts for 20%–30% cases of ischemic stroke as well as cerebral hemorrhage, and to a great extent, encephalopathy. Binswanger’s disease and multiple small strokes, which are common in older people, are also closely associated with SVD. These disorders often cause decline in cognition, vascular dementia, impairment in gait and balance, mood depression, and urinary incontinence, and often brings great social and economic burdens. SVD-related encephalopathy increases the incidences of fall, disability and death in elderly people. With the aging of the society, more attention should be paid to the importance of early diagnosis and prophylactic treatment of SVD. Here the clinical manifestations and pathophysiology of SVD are reviewed.