Hi Xede,

Most of us lose some of our cognitive ability to some extent as we age. Some degree of white matter disease is likely to show up on an MRI of any older individual. However, if a change in symptoms is sudden and substantial then I would think that it would concerning. Sometimes you can have a lacunar stroke (I've had several), and while they can be asymptomatic they can result in sudden onset of symptoms. They are the result of the same microvascular ischemia that cause white matter disease. However, an MRI would identify these separate from the areas of white matter disease.

If you had an MRI and the doctor said not to worry about it then don't worry about (easier said than done, I know). He must think that the degree of white matter disease is age appropriate.

Since there is no treatment for white matter disease you can't dwell on it. Just live a healthy lifestyle and enjoy life to the fullest. Getting older is not fun!

Feel free to reach out if you think that I can help.

Keith