Risk factors for white matter hyperintensities

White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) is a magnetic resonance imaging phenotype of cerebral small vessel disease, which is manifested as diffuse or confluent subcortical white matter. There is usually no clinical manifestation in the early stage of WMHs, and its pathophysiological mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Studies have shown that a variety of factors are associated with WMHs. The article reviews the risk factors for WMHs. Key words: Leukoaraiosis; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Risk Factors