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Vascular risk factors mediate the relationship between education and white matter hyperintensities
Shima Raeesi, Yashar Zeighami, Roqaie Moqadam, Cassandra Morrison, Mahsa Dadar. Alzheimer s & Dementia, 2025-12-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Higher education was associated with lower vascular risk (p < 0.001) and WMH burden (p = 0.004). Mediation analysis showed an indirect effect of education on WMH via vascular risk (a*b = -0.02, p < 0.001), accounting for 27% of the total effect. Education influences cerebrovascular health by reducing vascular risk. Addressing vascular health may reduce WMH burden. HIGHLIGHTS: Education is associated with lower WMH burden in aging adults. Vascular risk factors mediate the education-WMH relationship. Higher education predicts better vascular profiles and less WMH accumulation.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Raeesi, S., Zeighami, Y., Moqadam, R., Morrison, C., & Dadar, M. (2025). Vascular risk factors mediate the relationship between education and white matter hyperintensities. Alzheimer s & Dementia. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70972
Vancouver
Raeesi S, Zeighami Y, Moqadam R, Morrison C, Dadar M. Vascular risk factors mediate the relationship between education and white matter hyperintensities. Alzheimer s & Dementia. 2025. doi:10.1002/alz.70972. PMID: 41399254.
BibTeX
@article{raeesi2025-41399254,
author = {Raeesi, Shima and Zeighami, Yashar and Moqadam, Roqaie and Morrison, Cassandra and Dadar, Mahsa},
title = {{Vascular risk factors mediate the relationship between education and white matter hyperintensities}},
journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1002/alz.70972},
pmid = {41399254},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70972}
}
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Key findings
- Higher education was associated with lower vascular risk (p < 0.001) and WMH burden (p = 0.004).
- Mediation analysis showed an indirect effect of education on WMH via vascular risk (a*b = -0.02, p < 0.001), accounting for 27% of the total effect.
- Education influences cerebrovascular health by reducing vascular risk.
- Addressing vascular health may reduce WMH burden.
- HIGHLIGHTS: Education is associated with lower WMH burden in aging adults.
Why it matters
Higher education was linked to lower vascular risk and less white matter hyperintensity burden, with vascular risk factors explaining part of this relationship. The authors suggest addressing vascular health may reduce white matter hyperintensities, but this is an observational finding and not a tested intervention.
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 (Alzheimer s & Dementia) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Alzheimer s & Dementia: journal h-index 228 (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 3.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| 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 Mahsa Dadar: h-index 40 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | McGill University: institution h-index 1,373 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41399254) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 41 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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