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Cholinergic therapies have proven efficacious in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, and recently in vascular and mixed dementia. We set out to evaluate the impact of putative cerebrovascular lesions involving cholinergic pathways in patients with cognitive impairment. White matter signal hyperintensities on magnetic resonance imaging involving cholinergic projections were classified according to a three-point rating scale for 171 individuals with cognitive impairment and 34 normal elderly controls. Medial temporal lobe width was measured, and a neuropsychological test battery was administered. Moderate or severe involvement of cholinergic pathways by white matter signal hyperintensities were identified in 60% of subjects with probable vascular dementia, 30% of subjects with possible/probable Alzheimer's disease, and 40% of subjects with cognitive impairment but no dementia. All control subjects were …