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Cerebrovascular health impacts processing speed through anterior white matter alterations: a UK biobank study
Katie L. Moran, Craig J. Smith, Elizabeth McManus, Stuart McRae Allan, Daniela Montaldi, Nils Muhlert. Scientific Reports, 2025-03-21
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Cerebrovascular disease is associated with an increased likelihood of developing dementia. Cerebrovascular risk factors are modifiable and may reduce the risk of later-life cognitive dysfunction, however, the relationship between cerebrovascular risk factors, brain integrity and cognition remains poorly characterised. Using a UK Biobank sample of mid-to-old aged adults, without neurological disease, our structural equation mediation models showed that poor cerebrovascular health, indicated by the presence of cerebrovascular risk factors, was associated with slowed processing speed. This effect was best explained by anterior white matter microstructure (e.g. genu, anterior corona radiata), rather than posterior (e.g. splenium, posterior corona radiata)-the mediatory effect of anterior white matter strengthened further with age. Effects were also significantly reduced when considering other forms of cognition, demonstrating both regional- and cognitive-specificity. Our findings also illustrate that cerebrovascular risk factors cross-sectionally predict cognitive processing speed performance, which can be further strengthened by accounting for risk factor duration, particularly hypertensive duration. In summary, our study highlights the vulnerability of anterior regions and sensitivity of processing speed performance to cerebrovascular burden, and show this effect is amplified with age. We also highlight an improved method of cerebrovascular burden quantification, which accounts for factor duration, as well as risk factor presence and degree. Future work will aim to establish the role of medication and effective risk factor control in alleviating or preventing white matter pathology and cognitive dysfunction.
Key findings
- Cerebrovascular disease is associated with an increased likelihood of developing dementia.
- Using a UK Biobank sample of mid-to-old aged adults, without neurological disease, our structural equation mediation models showed that poor cerebrovascular health, indicated by the presence of cerebrovascular risk factors, was associated with slowed processing speed.
- Effects were also significantly reduced when considering other forms of cognition, demonstrating both regional- and cognitive-specificity.
- Our findings also illustrate that cerebrovascular risk factors cross-sectionally predict cognitive processing speed performance, which can be further strengthened by accounting for risk factor duration, particularly hypertensive duration.
Why it matters
In this UK Biobank study, poorer cerebrovascular health was linked to slower processing speed, explained by the microstructure of anterior white matter, with the effect stronger with age. The findings describe how cerebrovascular risk factors relate to cognition and do not test whether modifying them prevents dementia.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 41/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Scientific Reports) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Scientific Reports: journal h-index 463 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 6 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 6 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Nils Muhlert: h-index 34 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Manchester: institution h-index 1,304 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40119105) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 41 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-93399-2
- PubMed: 40119105
- Original source →
- Free full text: Scientific Reports →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Moran, K. L., Smith, C. J., McManus, E., Allan, S. M., Montaldi, D., & Muhlert, N. (2025). Cerebrovascular health impacts processing speed through anterior white matter alterations: a UK biobank study. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-93399-2
Vancouver
Moran KL, Smith CJ, McManus E, Allan SM, Montaldi D, Muhlert N. Cerebrovascular health impacts processing speed through anterior white matter alterations: a UK biobank study. Scientific Reports. 2025. doi:10.1038/s41598-025-93399-2. PMID: 40119105.
BibTeX
@article{moran2025-40119105,
author = {Moran, Katie L. and Smith, Craig J. and McManus, Elizabeth and Allan, Stuart McRae and Montaldi, Daniela and Muhlert, Nils},
title = {{Cerebrovascular health impacts processing speed through anterior white matter alterations: a UK biobank study}},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-025-93399-2},
pmid = {40119105},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-93399-2}
}
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