Table 4 Clinical demographics of the control group.

Age, year, mean ± SD (min; max)

71.37 ± 5.09 (64; 89)

69.96 ± 6.46 (60; 88)

64.72 ± 5.31 (60; 79)

p < 0.001^a,b,c

Education, year, mean ± SD (min; max)

7.89 ± 4.91 (0; 22)

6.07 ± 4.52 (0; 22)

10.12 ± 3.37 (6; 18)

p < 0.001^a,b,c

Female; n (%)

524 (61.6%)

434 (52.2%)

66 (57.4%)

p < 0.001^b

Hypertension; n (%)

519 (61.1%)

669 (80.4%)

32 (27.8%)

p < 0.001^a,b,c

Diabetes mellitus; n (%)

202 (23.8%)

311 (37.4%)

16 (13.9%)

p < 0.001^b,c

Hyperlipidemia; n (%)

264 (31.1%)

627 (75.4%)

18 (15.7%)

p < 0.001^a,b,c

Smoker (either current or past); n (%)

160 (18.8%)

224 (26.9%)

35 (30.4%)

p < 0.001^a,b

MMSE, mean ± SD (min; max)

26.94 ± 2.36 (19; 30)

23.87 ± 3.80 (2; 30)

28.21 ± 1.38 (23; 30)

p < 0.001^a,b,c

WML = 0

170 (20.0%)

25 (3.0%)

63 (54.8%)

p < 0.001^a,b,c

WML = 1

435 (51.2%)

412 (49.5%)

33 (28.7%)

WML = 2

187 (22.0%)

332 (39.9%)

14 (12.2%)

WML = 3

58 (6.8%)

63 (7.6%)

5 (4.3%)

Prevalence of moderate to severe WML (≥ 2); n (%)

245 (28.8%)

395 (47.5%)

19 (16.5%)

p < 0.001^a,b,c