As the ageing population continues to increase, the prevalence of age-related cognitive impairment has been on the rise. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is now widely recognised as the early stage of dementia. Mild cognitive impairment is closely associated with cerebral white matter lesions (WMLs), specifically in the case of leukoaraiosis (LA). A previous diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has demonstrated that white matter changes might damage cognitive function in LA patients, and the cognitive function might decrease with the deterioration of LA. Through consulting and analysing documents, we found that both of them share similarities in risk factors, pathogenesis, pathological changes, and imaging manifestations. The main characteristics of LA patients with MCI (LACI) are the early and apparent manifestations of delayed memory, attention, impaired executive function, and close association with dementia. This analysis of LACI may contribute to an early diagnosis of LACI and provide possible treatment for LACI.