Objective  To explore the changes of visinin-like protein 1 (VILIP-1), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) levels in patients with vascular dementia (VD) and risk factors.

  Methods  A total of 116 patients with VD were selected as VD group, and 110 patients with cerebral infarction without cognitive dysfunction were selected as control group. Serum levels of VILIP-1, MMP-9 as well as ApoE and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were compared between two groups. The correlations between VILIP-1, MMP-9, ApoE and MMSE score were analyzed by simple linear correlation method. The risk factors of vascular dementia were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis.

  Results  At admission, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, infarct site, infarct lesion size and carotid plaque detection rate in the VD group showed significant differences compared with those in the control group (P < 0.05). The serum levels of VILIP-1, MMP-9 and ApoE in the VD group were significantly higher than those in control group (P < 0.05). Orientation as well as attention and computation, memory, recall, language and MMSE scores in the VD group were significantly higher than those in control group (P < 0.05). The serum levels of VILIP-1, MMP-9 and ApoE in the VD group were significantly negatively correlated with the total MMSE scores (P < 0.05). The results of Logistic regression model showed increased levels of serum VilIP-1, MMP-9 and ApoE, NIHSS score was high at admission, cerebral infarction in the frontal lobe and large infarction lesions were independent risk factors for VD in patients with cerebral infarction (P < 0.05).

  Conclusion  Elevated serum levels of VILIP-1, MMP-9 and ApoE can increase the risk of VD in patients with cerebral infarction, and are related to the degree of cognitive impairment.