Participants (n=2109; mean age 67.7 years) from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) underwent 3T brain MR imaging. We determined total brain, total and regional grey matter (frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital), total white matter, total CSF, lateral ventricle (LV), and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volumes. Volumes were residualized for total cranial volume. WMH and LV volumes were Ln-transformed. LS7 (range: 0-14) was categorized into quartiles (Q) with higher scores representing better cardiovascular health. MRI outcomes across LS7 quartiles were investigated using linear regression analysis weighted and accounted for complex survey design and adjusted for baseline characteristics. In an exploratory analysis, we also explored if LS7 modified brain volume-age associations.

 The mean±SD LS7 score was 8.32±2.21. In the fully adjusted model, individuals in Q4 (versus Q1) had larger total brain (β=0.25, 95% CI=0.04, 0.46), total white matter (β=0.22, 95% CI=0.06, 0.37), and total grey (β=0.21, 95% CI=0.07, 0.36) volumes and smaller total CSF (β=-0.28, 95% CI=-0.44, -0.12) and WMH (β=-0.27, 95% CI=-0.45, -0.09) volumes. Test for interaction showed less pronounced age-related MRI changes among individuals in Q4 (versus Q1) for total brain (β=0.004, 95% CI=0.0003, 0.007), total white (β=0.004, 95% CI=0.001, 0 .006), total grey (β=0.003, 95% CI=0.001, 0.005), total CSF (β=-0.004, 95% CI=-0.007, -0.002), LV (β=-0.004, 95% CI=-0.008, 0.001), and WMH (β=-0.004, 95% CI=-0.007, -0.001) volumes. 

The highest LS7 quartile was associated with better brain MR imaging outcomes and lower cross-sectional age-related volumetric changes among Hispanic/Latino adults.