Figure 4.

Results of the causal mediation analysis. The total effect (c) of known vascular risk factors (age, hypertension and sex) on white matter hyperintensity (WMH) ratio is composed of an indirect effect (ab) and direct effect (c′) and all are presented in β with corresponding p-values. The mediation effect is the indirect effect expressed as a percentage of the total effect, that is, the proportion of the relation between vascular risk factors (age, hypertension and sex) and WMH ratio attributable to mediation of the identified biomarker cluster (BCS).

*p < 0.05.