Difference in P300 latency in two types of leukoaraiosis.

P300 examination was performed in patients with periventricular leukoaraiosis and in patients with leukoaraiosis in the centrum semiovale. Ten patients with periventricular leukoaraiosis, ten patients with leukoaraiosis in centrum semiovale and ten age-matched controls without leukoaraiosis were studied. The P300 was measured with an evoked potential recorder using an oddball paradigm. The mini-mental state examination score was significantly lower and the P300 latency was significantly longer in the leukoaraiosis in the centrum semiovale group than in the periventricular leukoaraiosis group and the control group. Leukoaraiosis in centrum semiovale may be related to dementia and the prolongation of P300 latency.