biostudies-literatureBernal JDeutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative ErkrankungenDeutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftOtto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg240https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11520063biostudies-literatureUnknown16(1)<h4>Background</h4>For over three decades, the concomitance of cortical neurodegeneration and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) has sparked discussions about their coupled temporal dynamics. Longitudinal studies supporting this hypothesis nonetheless remain scarce.<h4>Methods</h4>We applied global and regional bivariate latent growth curve modelling to determine the extent to which WMH and cortical thickness were interrelated over a four-year period. For this purpose, we leveraged longitudinal MRI data from 451 cognitively unimpaired participants (DELCODE; median age 69.71 [IQR 65.51, 75.50] years; 52.32% female). Participants underwent MRI sessions annually over a four-year period (1815 sessions in total, with roughly four MRI sessions per participant). We adjusted all models for demogrAlzheimer's research & therapyLongitudinal evidence for a mutually reinforcing relationship between white matter hyperintensities and cortical thickness in cognitively unimpaired older adults.PMC11520063CRC 1436, projects A05, B02, B04 and C01BN012Duzel ESchott BHHetzer SSpottke ARostamzadeh AZiegler GRauchmann BSGlanz WPerneczky RLusebrink FSchreiber SBernal JHellmann-Regen JSchneider AFreiesleben SDBuerger KJanowitz DPeters OPriller JLaske CDechent PSpruth EJEwers MSodenkamp SJessen FWiltfang JMenze IYakupov RTeipel SScheffler KFliessbach KAltenstein SKilimann IEsser AIncesoy EIfalseLongitudinal evidence for a mutually reinforcing relationship between white matter hyperintensities and cortical thickness in cognitively unimpaired older adults.<h4>Background</h4>For over three decades, the concomitance of cortical neurodegeneration and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) has sparked discussions about their coupled temporal dynamics. Longitudinal studies supporting this hypothesis nonetheless remain scarce.<h4>Methods</h4>We applied global and regional bivariate latent growth curve modelling to determine the extent to which WMH and cortical thickness were interrelated over a four-year period. For this purpose, we leveraged longitudinal MRI data from 451 cognitively unimpaired participants (DELCODE; median age 69.71 [IQR 65.51, 75.50] years; 52.32% female). Participants underwent MRI sessions annually over a four-year period (1815 sessions in total, with roughly four MRI sessions per participant). We adjusted all models for demogr2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Oct2026-07-15T15:32:15.048Z2025-04-04T01:02:16.24ZS-EPMC115200633946544010.1186/s13195-024-01606-5