F2. White Matter Lesions are Common in Midlife and Associated With Cognitive Decline

As the brain ages, it begins to accrue small microbleeds and lesions in white matter that are readily detectable as white matter hyperintensities (WMH) using FLAIR MRI. Accumulation of WMH is associated with multiple dementia risk factors, including age, hypertension, stroke, and brain atrophy. Longitudinal studies have reported that the spread of WMH coincides with age-related cognitive decline in general populations of older adults. However,...