White matter is the brain tissue that contains nerve fibers and serves as the connection to other parts of the brain. It is found in the subcortical (deeper) tissues of the brain. Nonspecific (meaning it is difficult to say what caused it) T2 hyperintensities describe areas with high water or protein content that show up “bright” (hyperintense) on certain MRI sequences. White matter hyperintensities are common changes seen on MRI in asymptomatic individuals (those with no symptoms), and their prevalence increases with age, to nearly 100% in those older than 90 years. They might be simply a benign (non-cancerous) marker of aging or they could be a marker of small vessel disease which is associated with cognition and stroke. Modifiable risk factors of small vessel disease include smoking, high blood pressure, poor cholesterol levels, carotid artery disease, and atrial fibrillation.