SummaryAlongside Germany’s ageing population, the prevalence of age-related diseases, including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, is rising as well. As there is yet no cure for many age-related diseases, we need to understand the underlying mechanisms to develop prevention strategies and to identify therapeutic targets. Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is often seen on neuroimaging of older individuals, and has been linked to the presence of cardiovascular disease. While it is well established that sex differences exist in white matter hyperintensity (WMH) disease burden, the most prominent marker of CSVD, and most cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), research on the sex-specific effects of CVDs on WMH burden remain scarce. Within the German National Cohort Study, we therefore aim to determine sex differences in global and regional WMH burden across CVDs. Additionally, we will characterise individuals with CVD with a high WMH burden compared to those with a low burden.

Keywords cardiometabolic-diseases cardiovascular-diseases flair menopause multimorbidity sex spatial-patterns t1 vascular-brain-health white-matter-hyperintensities

InstitutionsUniversität zu Köln