What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cohort. Population: Cerebrovascular disease (n=2211). Intervention: Life's Essential 8 (LE8) score vs. Lower LE8 score. Primary outcome: Cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) burden, gray matter (GM), and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volumes.

What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aims to investigate the relationship between cardiovascular health metrics and cerebrovascular disease burdens in Hispanic/Latino adults.

June 3, 2026Open Access

Life's Essential 8 and cerebrovascular disease among Hispanic/Latino adults: findings from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos and Study of Latinos‐Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging magnetic resonance imaging cohort

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Higher cardiovascular health, as measured by the Life's Essential 8 metric, is associated with reduced cerebrovascular disease burden and greater gray matter volume in Hispanic/Latino adults. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Key Result

Among 2,211 Hispanic/Latino adults, higher Life's Essential 8 scores were associated with reduced cerebral small vessel disease burden, lower odds of infarcts, and greater gray matter volume.

Key Points

The study aims to investigate the relationship between cardiovascular health metrics and cerebrovascular disease burdens in Hispanic/Latino adults.
LE8 scores were calculated from 2008 to 2011, ranging from 0 to 100.
Brain MRI outcomes assessed between 2017 and 2022 included various forms of cerebrovascular disease.
Survey-weighted regression models adjusted for demographics were utilized.
Higher LE8 scores were linked to reduced cerebral small vessel disease burden, with lower odds of infarcts and white matter hyperintensity.
Greater LE8 scores correlated with increased total and frontal gray matter volumes.
Lower white matter hyperintensity volumes were observed with higher LE8 scores.

Study Design

Type

Cohort (n=2,211)

Structured PICO

Is a higher Life's Essential 8 score associated with reduced cerebrovascular disease burden and greater gray matter volume in Hispanic/Latino adults?

Population

2,211 Hispanic/Latino adults (mean age 57.6 years, 58.5% female) evaluated for the association between baseline Life's Essential 8 scores and subsequent brain MRI volumetric outcomes.

Exposure

Life's Essential 8 (LE8) score (range: 0 to 100) calculated at baseline (2008 to 2011)

Outcome

Brain magnetic resonance imaging volumetric outcomes (2017 to 2022) including cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) burden (infarcts, cerebral microbleeds, high white matter hyperintensity [WMH] burden, enlarged perivascular spaces), gray matter (GM), and WMH volumessurrogate

Better cardiovascular health, as measured by the Life's Essential 8 metric, is associated with reduced cerebrovascular disease burden and greater gray matter volume in Hispanic/Latino adults.

Abstract

Abstract INTRODUCTION Better cardiovascular health (CVH) is associated with better cognitive function, but limited data exist on its association with cerebrovascular disease (CVD) burden using the Life's Essential 8 (LE8) metric, particularly among Hispanic/Latino adults. METHODS LE8 scores (range: 0 to 100) were calculated at baseline (2008 to 2011). Brain magnetic resonance imaging volumetric outcomes (2017 to 2022) included cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) burden (infarcts, cerebral microbleeds, high white matter hyperintensity WMH burden, enlarged perivascular spaces), gray matter (GM), and WMH volumes. Survey‐weighted regression models examined associations between LE8, adjusting for demographic factors. RESULTS Among 2211 participants (mean age SE = 57.6 8.0 years, 58.5% female), higher LE8 score was associated with reduced cSVD burden and lower odds of infarcts and WMH burden. Higher LE8 scores were associated with greater total and frontal GM and lower WMH volumes. DISCUSSION Better CVH was associated with reduced CVD burden and greater GM volume in Hispanic/Latino adults.