White matter microstructural degeneration is an early marker of declining brain health, and vascular risk factors such as high blood pressure and adipose fat deposition have been found to be significantly associated with white matter microstructural degeneration in healthy adults. In this study, using diffusion tensor imaging, we find that the vascular-risk influences on white matter are more pronounced in women than in men. This study therefore calls attention to the consideration of sex differences in studying brain vulnerability to vascular risk factors.
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