['Cognitive tests and nonamyloid imaging biomarkers do not consistently identify preclinical AD. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume, a cerebrovascular disease marker, is more associated with preclinical AD than conventional AD biomarkers and cognitive tests.', "Elderly controls enrolled in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI, n\xa0=\xa0158) underwent florbetapir-PET scans, psychometric testing, neuroimaging with MRI and PET, and APOE genetic testing. Elderly controls the Parkinson's progression markers initiative (PPMI, n\xa0=\xa058) had WMH volume, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Aβ1-42, and APOE status measured.", 'In the ADNI cohort, only WMH volume and APOE ε4 status were associated with cerebral Aβ (standardized β\xa0=\xa00.44 and 1.25, P\xa0=\xa0.03 and .002). The association between WMH volume and APOE ε4 status with cerebral Aβ (standardized β\xa0=\xa01.12 and 0.26, P\xa0=\xa0.048 and .045) was confirmed in the PPMI cohort.'] Are white matter hyperintensities more highly associated with preclinical Alzheimer 's disease than imaging and cognitive markers of neurodegeneration?