Representative FLAIR axial slices in age- and sex-matched participants stratified by variables significantly associated with WMH load. (A) Systolic BP: 66-year-old male with normal systolic BP of 119 mmHg (left); and 67-year-old male with elevated, clinically hypertensive systolic BP of 152 mmHg (right). (B) BMI: 63-year-old male with BMI of 19.6, falling within the healthy range (18.5–24.9); and 64-year-old male with BMI of 28.5 falling within the overweight range (25–29.9). (C) Sixty-two-year-old male with informant-reported >7 h of chores daily (left); and 63-year-old male with informant-reported no daily chore hours (right). Overall, we found increased WMH load in participants with elevated systolic BP, high BMI and fewer informant-reported daily chore hours.