Takeaway
White matter hyperintensities (WMH) grow during the aging process and therefore may be useful biomarkers to identify middle-aged people who are at high risk for dementia with cognitive decline in the future.
Why this matters
Biomarkers are important tools to identify individuals at risk for dementia early on so interventions can be used to improve clinical outcomes, including cognitive function.
WMH are a potential biomarker of cognitive decline in dementia, however, they have not been studied in mid-life populations.