Blood Pressure, Internal Carotid Artery Flow Parameters, and Age-Related White Matter Hyperintensities

White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are associated with hypertension. We examined interactions among blood pressure (BP), internal carotid artery (ICA) flow velocity parameters, and WMH. We obtained BP measurements from 694 community-dwelling subjects at mean ages 69.6 (±0.8) years and again at 72.6 (±0.7) years, plus brain MRI and ICA ultrasound at age 73±1 years. Diastolic and mean BP decreased and pulse pressure increased, but systolic BP did not change between 70 and 73 years. Multiple linear regression, corrected for vascular disease and risk factors, showed that WMH at the age of 73 years were associated with history of hypertension (β=0.13; P