Which condition leads to increased risk of cerebral infarctions, contributing to dementia?

Increased risk of cerebral infarctions that contribute to dementia is most strongly associated with multiple infarcts. When the brain experiences multiple small strokes or infarcts, usually resulting from acute ischemic events due to underlying vascular disease, it can lead to vascular dementia. This type of dementia arises from reduced blood flow to various regions of the brain, causing cognitive impairment due to the cumulative effect of these infarctions.

The condition is often characterized by the presence of small vessel disease, where the blood supply to the brain is compromised due to atherosclerosis or other vascular pathologies. As these small infarcts accumulate, they can manifest as both cognitive decline and changes in personality, behavior, or mood.

In contrast, although leukoaraiosis (often seen in elderly populations) involves white matter changes from chronic ischemia, it typically signifies small vessel disease but does not directly equate to multiple distinct infarcts that lead to widespread functional impairment. Alzheimer's disease, while a common cause of dementia, is primarily due to neurodegenerative processes rather than vascular events. Pseudotumor cerebri is associated with increased intracranial pressure and headaches, not directly leading to cerebral infarcts or dementia.

Thus, multiple infarcts clearly represent a mechanism by which significant