After adjusting for potential confounders, increased hsa-miR-3074-3p [odds ratio (OR), 1.41; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.17–1.69; P = 0.001] and reduced Cav-1 level (OR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.16–0.53; P = 0.001) were also significantly associated with a higher risk of leukoaraiosis (Fig. 7a). This evidence concerns the gene CAV1 and Abnormal cerebral white matter morphology.