NOTCH3 variants were associated with an increased risk of the presence of lacunes (OR: 5.97, 95% CI: 2.00 to 12.06, p=0.0002) and cerebral microbleeds (OR: 4.38, 95% CI: 1.69 to 7.76, p=0.0003). The gene discussed is NOTCH3; the disease is cerebral microbleeds.