D-077 | Exploring the effect of neurodegeneration and cardiovascular risk factors in white matter hyperintensities burden across dementias

Disorders of the Nervous System
Author: Florencia Altschuler | Email: faltschuler@udesa.edu.ar

Florencia Altschuler^1°, Verónica Canziani^1°, Agustín Ibañez^2°,  Vicente Medel^1°3°, Cecilia González Campo

^1° Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina
^2° Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, Santiago, Chile
^3° Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)

White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are usually interpreted as a sign of small vessel disease. However, recent studies suggest that neurodegeneration may also play an important role in its pathophysiology. Our goal is to identify and quantify the portion of WMH attributable to cardiovascular factors or neurodegeneration. For this, we will use a multimodal approach analyzing sociodemographic, neuroimaging, and clinical data from the ReDLat consortium, comprising dementia patients (Alzheimer’s disease [AD], frontotemporal dementia [FTD]) and healthy older adults from 10 Latin America. Statistical analyses will include multiple regression models and structural equation modeling, to explore the effects of neurodegeneration and cardiovascular risk factors (such as body mass index, smoking and blood pressure) in white matter hyperintensities burden across dementias and healthy aging.