White Noise-Is Anxiety in Late-Life Associated With White Matter Hyperintensity Burden?

Objective: We investigated the relationship between anxiety phenotypes (global anxiety, worry, and rumination) and white matter hyperintensities (WMH), with special consideration for the roles of age and executive function (EF). Our hypotheses were 1) anxiety phenotypes would be associated with WMH and 2) EF would moderate this relationship.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Participants were recruited from the local community (Pittsburgh, PA).

Participants: We recruited 110 older adults (age ≥ 50) with varying worry severity and clinical comorbidity.

Interventions: Not applicable.

Measurements: Demographics (age, sex, race, education), clinical measures (cumulative illness burden, global anxiety, worry, and rumination), EF, and WMH quantified with magnetic resonance imaging.

Results: Lower global anxiety and worry severity were significantly correlated with higher WMH volume, though the global anxiety relationship was not significant after controlling for age. Rumination as not associated with WMH burden. EF was not correlated with either global anxiety, worry, rumination, or WMH. However, in those with advanced age and/or greater WMH burden, there was an association between worry and EF as well as EF and WMH.

Conclusion: Longitudinal studies are needed in order to clarify the complex interactions between anxiety phenotypes, WMH, and EF.