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Updated: Sep 12, 2025

Generalized Psychophysiological Interaction PPI Analysis of Memory Related Connectivity in Individuals at Genetic Risk for Alzheimer's Disease
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Racial and ethnic differences in cardiometabolic predictors of white matter hyperintensities burden among males: The

Cellas A Hayes1, Raymond Jones2,3, Roland J Thorpe4,5

  • 1Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA.

Journal of Alzheimer'S Disease : JAD
|August 5, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Cardiometabolic risk factors significantly impact white-matter hyperintensities (WMH) differently across racial and ethnic groups in males. Hispanic males show the highest vulnerability, highlighting the need for tailored interventions to reduce Alzheimer's disease risk.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cardiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Cardiometabolic conditions accelerate white-matter hyperintensities (WMH), a marker of vascular injury linked to Alzheimer's disease risk.
  • Understanding how these relationships vary by race and ethnicity in males is crucial for targeted health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate race and ethnicity-specific associations between cardiometabolic risk factors, blood pressure, and WMH volume in Non-Hispanic White (NHW), Non-Hispanic Black (NHB), and Hispanic males.
  • To quantify the impact of various cardiometabolic exposures on brain health across diverse male populations.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 1378 males from the Healthy Aging Brain Study-Health Disparities.
  • Regression models used to assess five binary exposures (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, tobacco dependence) and four continuous blood pressure metrics against WMH volume, stratified by race.

Main Results:

  • Hispanic males demonstrated the broadest vulnerability, with hypertension, diabetes, and tobacco dependence significantly predicting higher WMH.
  • Elevated blood pressure metrics (systolic, diastolic, pulse, mean arterial pressure) were associated with increased WMH in Hispanic males, an effect not observed in NHW or NHB males.
  • A composite cardiometabolic score showed the strongest association with WMH in Hispanic males.

Conclusions:

  • Cardiometabolic and hemodynamic drivers of WMH exhibit significant racial and ethnic variations in males.
  • Hispanic males present a more pervasive risk profile for WMH, while NHB males show selective associations and NHW males have limited links.
  • Tailored vascular-risk interventions are essential to mitigate WMH-related pathways to Alzheimer's disease in diverse male populations.

Keywords:
African AmericansAlzheimer's diseaseHispanicsblood pressure measurementshealth disparitieshypertensionwhite matter hyperintensities

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